A juvenile Philippine serpent eagle (Spilornis holospilus) rescued by villagers and environment officials was released Tuesday morning in Magpet, North Cotabato.
The eagle was found trapped in a net in Sitio Ambag, Barangay Tagbac on Monday afternoon, after it was seen attempting to prey on a chicken.
Staff of the Protected Area Management Office-Mt. Apo Natural Park and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Cotabato retrieved the bird.
Director Felix Alicer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Soccsksargen (DENR-12) said the 0.6-kilogram eagle, with a wingspan of 116.84 centimeters, was examined at Kidapawan City Veterinary Office and deemed healthy for release.
“The eagle was found in good condition and was immediately cleared for return to its natural habitat,” Alicer said in a statement Tuesday.
In a related incident, a concerned citizen turned over an injured male Chinese sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis) to the provincial environment office on Feb. 6.
The citizen reported seeing a man carrying the bird in Barangay Poblacion and suspected it will be sold.
“The citizen convinced the man to surrender the bird, emphasizing that selling it was against the law,” Alicer said.
The bird, found stressed and with an unresponsive right leg, is undergoing rehabilitation and will be released once fully recovered.
Earlier, a Philippine hawk-eagle (Nisaetus philippensis) was also rescued and turned over to the DENR-12 Regional Wildlife Rescue Center in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat. It will be released after being cleared by veterinarians. (PNA)
