A Philippine Eagle chick hatched on Nov. 11 at the newly opened National Bird Breeding Sanctuary (NBBS) in Eden, Toril district, marking the first successful hatching at the sanctuary, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) announced Tuesday night.

“The hatching of Philippine Eagle Chick #30 represents a major achievement in eagle conservation and is a milestone for the sanctuary, which launched operations only months ago,” PEF said in a statement.

The chick was born through cooperative artificial insemination, with its mother, Pinpin, naturally incubating the egg for the first seven days. The father, Sinag, resides at the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) and provided the semen used in the process.

According to Domingo Tadena, facility manager and PEF’s expert on conservation breeding, the chick’s survival depended on careful intervention during its 56-day incubation. To prevent suffocation from carbon dioxide buildup, PEF used the “help out” method, assisting the chick by gently pipping through airspace in the egg.

“Without this intervention, the risk of suffocation would have been high. The chick’s successful hatching is a remarkable first for the NBBS, demonstrating our commitment to securing this critically endangered species’ future,” Tadena said, adding that Chick #30 symbolizes hope for Philippine Eagle conservation amid threats from habitat loss and poaching.

Tadena explained that NBBS will provide a secure environment for the chick’s development, strengthening long-term recovery efforts for the national bird of the Philippines.

The sanctuary, designed for breeding and safe incubation of the endangered eagle, is a key component of PEF’s initiatives to protect the species. (PNA)