The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Caraga Region (DENR-13) formally received a rescued male Philippine hawk-eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri) from the Philsaga Mining Corporation (PMC) on May 14.

The eagle was rescued by a resident in Barangay Bunawan Brook, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, and was turned over to PMC on May 13, DENR-13 said in a statement Saturday.

“The head security reported the incident to PMC President Atty. Raul C. Villanueva, who immediately called DENR-13 RED Tamayo for the turn-over of the wildlife since it cannot be possessed without a permit,” DENR-13 said.

According to DENR-13, the rescuer first thought the juvenile male raptor was a Philippine Eagle.

“The DENR-13, through a technical personnel, made a species identification of the rescued raptor and it turned out to be a hawk-eagle locally called ‘lawin’,” it said.

It added that hawk eagles are considered endangered species under the DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09 or the Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and their Categories.

The eagle was found in good condition without any signs of injury but was recommended to be acclimatized because it is already tamed or imprinted based on its behavior.

“The bird of prey is now placed in a cage at the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte for further observation and health assessment before its release back to the wild,” DENR-13 said. (PNA)