PH eagle Lakpue rescued in Leyte after losing talon in dog encounter

TACLOBAN CITY — Philippine eagle Lakpue has been rescued in Burauen, Leyte, after losing one of his talons in an encounter with a domestic dog, with wildlife specialists now assessing whether the critically endangered bird can still hunt and survive independently in the wild.

The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said Lakpue was rescued on Aug. 16 along the Marabong River, where he had previously been monitored hunting rat snakes, lizards and palm civets and drinking from the river.

PEF veterinarian Danielle Pasion and senior animal keeper Dominic Tadena provided immediate first aid and stabilized the injured eagle before he was transported to Davao City on Aug. 18.

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READ: PH eagle ‘Lakpue’ soars again in Leyte forests

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Lakpue is undergoing a comprehensive medical examination, treatment and mandatory disease screening at Doc Bayani’s Animal Wellness Clinic under a veterinary team led by Dr. Sheen Gadong. Once medically assessed and cleared, he will be transferred to the Philippine Eagle Center for continued care and rehabilitation.

Lakpue was among the Philippine eagles transported by the PEF to forest habitat in Burauen as part of conservation efforts to establish and strengthen wild eagle populations in Leyte. After his release, field monitoring showed that he had adapted to the forest and was actively hunting, an encouraging indication of his ability to live independently.

The loss of a talon, however, poses a major challenge. A talon is the sharp, curved claw at the end of a bird of prey’s toe that it uses to grip, hold and kill prey. For a Philippine eagle, whose diet includes animals such as snakes, lizards and mammals, strong talons are essential for capturing and subduing food.

The PEF said the injury does not automatically rule out Lakpue’s return to the wild. During rehabilitation, specialists will monitor his balance, agility, strength and coordination, as well as his ability to capture and subdue prey despite the missing talon.

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His previous hunting activity in Burauen is considered a positive sign, but his ability to fly alone will not determine whether he can be released. Specialists will have to establish whether he can consistently hunt and survive without human assistance.

The Philippine eagle is classified as critically endangered, with habitat loss, hunting and other human-related threats continuing to threaten its survival. The PEF conducts rescue, rehabilitation, research and conservation programs aimed at protecting the species and its remaining forest habitat. /das