cuckooroller
Registered User
Hi All,
Good news from the Philippines:
Captive-bred Philippine eagle Kabayan to fly over Mt. Apo soon
KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/14 March) - Everyone is preparing for the
historic day on Earth Day, April 22, when a Philippine Eagle, conceived,
hatched and bred in captivity at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos,
Calinan, Davao City, will be released to spread its wings and fly over
Mt. Apo.
It will be the first time in Asia that a captive-bred endangered
species,
will be released to the wild. It will also be the first time for captive
eagle Kabayan, to be introduced into a real forest habitat.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation in Davao City initially requested the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City to
allow them to release a male and female captive-bred eagle but the DENR
approved the release of only one, a male eagle named Kabayan.
The endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga Jefferyi), was described
by
the late aviator Charles Lindbergh as "the world's noblest flier." In
the
mid-1990s, then President Fidel V. Ramos declared the bird the country's
national symbol.
The PEF has released several Philippine eagles in the past but Kabayan's
release into the forests of the Philippine National Oil Company
Geothermal
Reserve within Mt. Apo, "marks the first time that an eagle bred and
born
in captivity is to be introduced to the forest habitat," a press
statement
of the PEF said.
"Previously released birds came from the wild and were rehabilitated and
treated for their injuries at the Philippine Eagle Center before they
were
returned to the area in which they were found. In contrast, the eagle to
be
released this March is seeing the forest for the very first time," it
said.
The eagle will be brought to a site in Mt. Apo on March 30 for the "soft
release" - and will stay in a temporary cage or hack box for about three
weeks to allow it to adjust to the new environment. By the end of the
third
week, the hack box door will be opened so the bird can explore the areas
outside of its makeshift nest until its eventual release on April 22,
Earth
Day.
The "experimental release project" is designed to document the released
bird's adjustment to its new environment and to test-release protocols
for
application to the Philippine Eagle. Results from the experimental
release
will be used in the planning of a full-blown reintroduction program for
Philippine Eagles in the future.
Kabayan, the offspring of eagles Junior and Kahayag, conceived through
artificial insemination, and hatched in November 2002, has been kept in
a
simulated forest inside the Philippine Eagle Center.
Kabayan, named after its adoptive parent, Senator Noli de Castro, a
candidate for vice president, has had limited interaction with human
beings
as caretakers have to wear masks and use pupper when approaching the
bird.
The caretakers have also, occasionally, included live prey into its
cage
to test its hunting skills.
Five groups from the Philippine Eagle Foundation, PNOC and Makilala and
Kidapawan City governments will be monitoring different areas within the
protected area to monitor the activities of these eagles. (Williamor A.
Magbanua/MindaNews)
:bounce: B
Good news from the Philippines:
Captive-bred Philippine eagle Kabayan to fly over Mt. Apo soon
KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/14 March) - Everyone is preparing for the
historic day on Earth Day, April 22, when a Philippine Eagle, conceived,
hatched and bred in captivity at the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos,
Calinan, Davao City, will be released to spread its wings and fly over
Mt. Apo.
It will be the first time in Asia that a captive-bred endangered
species,
will be released to the wild. It will also be the first time for captive
eagle Kabayan, to be introduced into a real forest habitat.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation in Davao City initially requested the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City to
allow them to release a male and female captive-bred eagle but the DENR
approved the release of only one, a male eagle named Kabayan.
The endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga Jefferyi), was described
by
the late aviator Charles Lindbergh as "the world's noblest flier." In
the
mid-1990s, then President Fidel V. Ramos declared the bird the country's
national symbol.
The PEF has released several Philippine eagles in the past but Kabayan's
release into the forests of the Philippine National Oil Company
Geothermal
Reserve within Mt. Apo, "marks the first time that an eagle bred and
born
in captivity is to be introduced to the forest habitat," a press
statement
of the PEF said.
"Previously released birds came from the wild and were rehabilitated and
treated for their injuries at the Philippine Eagle Center before they
were
returned to the area in which they were found. In contrast, the eagle to
be
released this March is seeing the forest for the very first time," it
said.
The eagle will be brought to a site in Mt. Apo on March 30 for the "soft
release" - and will stay in a temporary cage or hack box for about three
weeks to allow it to adjust to the new environment. By the end of the
third
week, the hack box door will be opened so the bird can explore the areas
outside of its makeshift nest until its eventual release on April 22,
Earth
Day.
The "experimental release project" is designed to document the released
bird's adjustment to its new environment and to test-release protocols
for
application to the Philippine Eagle. Results from the experimental
release
will be used in the planning of a full-blown reintroduction program for
Philippine Eagles in the future.
Kabayan, the offspring of eagles Junior and Kahayag, conceived through
artificial insemination, and hatched in November 2002, has been kept in
a
simulated forest inside the Philippine Eagle Center.
Kabayan, named after its adoptive parent, Senator Noli de Castro, a
candidate for vice president, has had limited interaction with human
beings
as caretakers have to wear masks and use pupper when approaching the
bird.
The caretakers have also, occasionally, included live prey into its
cage
to test its hunting skills.
Five groups from the Philippine Eagle Foundation, PNOC and Makilala and
Kidapawan City governments will be monitoring different areas within the
protected area to monitor the activities of these eagles. (Williamor A.
Magbanua/MindaNews)
:bounce: B