Killing of Philippine eagle sparks calls for tougher laws to save critically endangered bird

The death of a Philippine eagle from a gunshot wound has sparked calls to intensify conservation efforts and pass new laws to protect the critically endangered species that increasingly come in the cross hairs of hunters.

The bird named “Mangayon”, estimated to be around four years old, died this week in a southern Philippine forest from sepsis and loss of blood after its left wing was clipped by a toy marble fired from an improvised airgun.

The dying raptor was found in an area previously unknown as a “nesting site”, indicating other eagles could also be there.

The incident resulted in an outpouring of grief on social media and at the Davao-based Philippine Eagle Foundation, which has rescued 19 injured birds since 2020.

Jayson Ibañez, the agency’s director for operations and chief scientist, described the Philippine eagle as wild and fierce, flying freely with the broadest wingspan of up to two metres, perching magnificently as the tallest standing forest eagle in the world.

An estimated 392 pairs live in the forested areas of Mindanao and on the islands of Samar, Leyte and Luzon. An untold number perished in the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan, according to Ibañez.

Ibañez said he became enamoured with this “majestic species” known as Pithecophaga jefferyi 28 years ago as a student biologist.

He explained that young eagles were the most vulnerable to shooting and hunting because “they are still immature” and ignorant of the danger humans could pose, and called for enhancing awareness among the indigenous communities to prevent the birds from becoming extinct.

Killing endangered species is punishable with 12 years in jail and a fine of 1 million pesos (US$17,119), but the law lacks teeth.

A man walked free after spending six months behind