Had a great experience in visiting Britania Group of Islands in Surigao del Sur. I was planning to visit Bislig to see Tinuy-an Falls, however, since it was raining so hard, I decided to head back to Davao City (whew! it took me almost 8 hours). I’ve reached Davao City at night, checked-in in a hotel, had dinner in Roxas night market. The next day, since I have ample of time to spend, I first visited the People’s Park and after a couple of hours, I decided to go to the Philippine Eagle Center. I’ll also share with you how to get to the Philippine Eagle Center.
This is Fighter. He was gun-shot in the wild but got rescued and rehabilitated by Philippine Eagle Center. Unfortunately, he can not be released to the wild as he can no longer fly.
Taken from this tarp in the Philippine Eagle Center
Quick Facts About the Philippine Eagle
- National Bird of the Philippines
- Common Name: Philippine Eagle
- Scientific Name: Pithecophaga jefferyi
- Status: Critically endangered; estimated to be no more than 400 pairs left in the wild
- Height: 1 meter (3 feet)
- Wingspan: 2 meters (7 feet), the broadest in the world
- Distinct Features: Massive, curved beak and long crest feathers: only bird of prey in the world with blue-grey eyes
- Habitat: Lives in the rainforest
- nests are found high up in large and tall trees in the forest
- found only in the Philippines, on the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao
- highly territorial, occupying 7,000 – 13,000 hectares of forest per eagle pair
- Behaviour: eats flying lemur, squirrels, palm civets, monkeys, snakes, hornbills and bats
- lays only one egg every other year
- parent eagle take care of their chick until it is about 2 years old
- monogamous, takes only one mate for life
- Threats to Survival
- Hunting. Philippine eagles are still hunted down despite the presence of laws protecting them. Very often, they are killed without provocation, mostly out of fear and ignorance, or worse, just for sport.
- Deforestation. In the long term, the forests are continually being denuded, becoming smaller leading to the loss of nesting places for the eagles. For the Great Philippine Eagle, the forest is their only home. It is where they find food, reproduce and nurture their offspring.
I spent a few hours in the Philippine Eagle Center and took some photos. And here they are:
This is Fighter’s caretaker who takes pictures up close
I’m in the background. This was taken by his caretaker.
How to get to Philippine Eagle Center
- From Davao City proper, take a jeepney or a cab going to Bankerohan Terminal. In my case, since it was my first time traveling solo, I was too shy to ask around how to get there so I booked a trip from Grab.
- In Bankerohan Terminal, ride a van going to Calinan. Let the driver know that you will go to the Philippine Eagle Center. Travel time may take an hour. You’ll be advised to go to habal-habal terminal in Calinan.
- From Calinan, take a habal-habal to Philippine Eagle Center. Fare is 80 Pesos and travel time is around 15 minutes.
- You may ask the driver to wait for you or if you want to spend some time in the center, there are some habal-habal that can take back to Calinan. (So, that’s how to get to the Philippine Eagle Center)
Philippine Eagle in captivity – this is to protect them and do further studies on how we can avoid their extinction
How much is the Entrance Fee at the Philippine Eagle Center?
P150 entrance fee.
While taking photos, I am thinking about the facts that I’ve read about Philippine Eagle – that they are very important to exist for without them, something will not be balanced in the ecosystem and I think that will somehow affect us, humans.
I told myself that I will stick to saving stuff coming from trees like paper – in this way – I can somehow help stop deforestation. If all people living or working in a city will do the same, I think it will be a great help.
If you want to know more about the Philippine Eagle Center and how they help save the Philippine Eagle and our forests, you may visit their website at:
https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/
And if you want to give financial assistance to the organization, you may go to this link or contact them directly:
https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/donate
How about you, how do you help to conserve our environment?
