Following Davao de Oro killing
TACLOBAN CITY — In response to the recent killing of a Philippine eagle in Compostela Valley, Davao de Oro, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Eastern Visayas announced plans to enhance surveillance of two Philippine eagles recently translocated to Burauen, Leyte.
The heightened monitoring of the eagles, Carlito and Uswag, is a precautionary measure following the shooting of a Philippine eagle named Mangayon on July 8.
The incident has raised significant concern within the DENR.
Lormelyn Claudio, the executive regional director of DENR-8, expressed alarm over Mangayon’s death, prompting immediate action to safeguard Carlito and Uswag, who were relocated to the forests of Burauen on June 28.
“We will heighten our surveillance and monitoring of both Carlito and Uswag, and we will ensure that they are protected,” Claudio stated during the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ media conference initiated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on Tuesday, July 16.
Claudio highlighted that transmitter devices are attached to Carlito and Uswag, allowing for real-time tracking of their movements.
She emphasized the collaborative effort, mentioning that forest guards from both the DENR and the local government unit of Burauen are dedicated to patrolling the release sites.
The two eagles, a female named Carlito and a male named Uswag, were released in the Anonang-Lobi mountain range and are reportedly adapting well to their new environment.
“We are optimistic that these two eagles will lead to an increase in the eagle population in our forests. Before Super Typhoon Yolanda, sightings of Philippine eagles were common in Leyte and even in Samar,” Claudio said.
She added that the translocation, facilitated by the Philippine Eagle Foundation, aims to ensure the protection and repopulation of the species in Eastern Visayas.
Claudio concluded by reaffirming the DENR’s commitment to preserving these majestic birds, stating that the measures in place will help safeguard Carlito and Uswag while contributing to the broader efforts of species conservation in the region. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
