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Philippines' Majestic Eagle on the Brink
7 Feb
Summary
- Stands three feet tall with a six-foot wingspan.
- Critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
- Declared national bird in 1995, national treasure.
The Philippine eagle, an immense bird standing three feet tall with a wingspan exceeding six feet, faces a critical threat of extinction. This species, known locally as the 'monkey-eating eagle,' is the largest eagle globally by length and wing surface, though not the heaviest. It is native to the humid rainforests of the Philippines.
Declared the national bird in 1995, the Philippine eagle is a national treasure. However, its population is declining rapidly, with an IUCN Red List assessment in 2016 estimating only 180 to 500 mature individuals. The primary threats include extensive habitat loss driven by agriculture, mining, logging, and hunting, alongside the impacts of climate change.
Conservation initiatives have led to the establishment of protected areas such as Mt. Kitanglad and Mt. Apo Natural Parks on Mindanao, and the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park on Luzon. These efforts aim to safeguard the future of this critically endangered species. The eagle plays a vital role in controlling local mammal, bird, and reptile populations.
