Rescued endangered hawk-eagle eaglet turned over to DENR in Zamboanga

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – A juvenile South Philippine Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri), an endangered raptor endemic to the country, was rescued and turned over to environmental authorities Sunday, September 6, offering a rare sign of hope for the survival of the threatened species.

The young bird was retrieved at Barangay Sas in Gutalac town, Zamboanga del Norte by a team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Liloy.

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Initial physical assessments revealed the eaglet is in good condition despite months away from its natural habitat. The juvenile raptor is currently housed at the CENRO Liloy Wildlife Holding Facility, where wildlife officers are conducting further evaluation and health monitoring to prepare the bird for eventual release back into the wild.

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The bird’s journey to safety began three months ago when Justine Jay Sapalleda and his friends heard distress calls coming from a fallen nest in a nearby tree. Finding the crying eaglet vulnerable and abandoned, the children brought it home to protect it.

For three months, the Sapalleda family sheltered and fed the juvenile eagle a diet of fish and chicken meat. Unaware that keeping protected wildlife is illegal under Philippine law, the family raised the bird through its most delicate developmental stage before local resident Jessica Pagente learned of the situation and alerted CENRO Liloy.

“The timely report and the care extended by the Sapalleda family helped ensure the juvenile eagle’s safety and provided it with an opportunity to return to the wild,” CENRO Liloy chief Maribel Acama said, highlighting the vital role local communities play in conservation efforts.

Also known as Pinsker’s hawk-eagle, the species is classified as “endangered” under DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09 due to severe habitat loss and poaching.

Following the turnover, CENRO Liloy reminded the public that holding or keeping wildlife is prohibited, urging citizens to immediately report displaced, injured, or threatened animals to the nearest DENR office for proper rescue and rehabilitation. INQ