Adopt an Eagle
Manila Bulletin
August 19, 2007


Call it dejavu. Instead of bumping into old friends and colleagues, I found myself back at the Philippine Eagle Foundation in Milagros, Kalingan, to meet and greet the new members of the Eagle Center.

This time there are 36 Philippine Eagles in the Center, up from the 24 that they had five years ago.

Indeed, the foundation has done a successful job in the breeding this blue-eyed raptor endemic to the Philippines given that there are only about 1,000 left in the wild, not to mention the fact that eagles, in a way, practice family planning limiting their offspring to one every two years.

That's a turtle pace compared to the rate that they are being hunted and killed.

Ironically, the would-have-been happy "get-together" was overshadowed by the new of Kabayan's death. He was the first captive eagle to be released in 2004.

Sadly, Kabayan died in the wild nine months after his release when he accidentally got electrocuted in an electric pole.

It's because of these unfortunate circumstances that the eagles are kept at the Center for as long as it takes until thoughtful considerations are met prior to their release a suitable habitat, a bird healthy enough to sustain itself in the wild, and most importantly, adequate funding from the foundation to pay for the cost of monitoring the progress and activities of these birds.

Odd as it sounds, the foundation has opened up to the idea of eagle adoption to augment revenues coming from private donations and ticket sales.

Just think of the daily expenses of operating this sprawling eight hectare property.

It has a research facility, mini zoo, incubation room, and cages that are the size of two trailer trucks glued together - all of which need upkeep everyday.