CHANGEABLE HAWK RAPTOR SAVES BY FARMER

LUISIANA, LAGUNA - A group of environmentalists made a successful bid to save rare specie of snake-eating eagle which was captured by a farmer in Brgy. San Pedro this town.
The wild bird called Changeable Hawk Eagle was named Haring Pedro by Msgr. Jerry Bitoon, apparently named after Brgy. San Pedro where it was found and captured in Oct. last year by his farmer neighbor identified as Danny Pardines.
The eagle has been turned over to the Center for Philippine Raptors (CPE) in makiling Botanical Garden in Los Baños thru the intercession of lawyer Asis Perez, area director of Tanggol Kalikasan (TK) based in Lucena City.
Upon learning about the eagle's captivity, Bitoon immediately called the TK office and Perez decided to contact and talked with Carlo Custodio of the Protected Area Wildlife Bureau for the eagle's turnover.
The TK has launched last year a campaign to save endangered species and has caused the successful release from captivity of sea green turtles.
The eagle, which is wounded at the head and left wing, will be quarantined for 2 months. It will now be included in the annual health check-up of raptors inside the CPE and will have its wounded wing x-rayed at the UPLB Veterinary Medical Center, according to Perez.
Michael Sanchez, biologist and project site officer at the CPE, said the captured Changeable Hawk Eagle is now uncommon in its ecological status. He said it lives near rivers and preys on snakes, lizards and tiny mammals. When it is bred in captivity, it feeds on rats, rabbits, pig and cow.
"Sa kasalukuyan ang actual sightings ng Phil. Eagle dito sa Pilipinas ay 184 na lamang at kung patuloy nating hahayaang mawala ang kanilang tirahan hindi malayong wala nang Makita pang agila ang mga susunod pang salinlahi," according to Jay Lim, TK community organizer.
 

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