PEF to relocate Philippine Eagle Center to Eden Toril

Speaking to reporters during Monday’s (May 30) Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, Andi Baldonado, PEF Development Manager said the plan is due to threats brought by the Avian Influenza, adding they are on standby to relocate the Philippine Eagles to a 50-hectare local government property in Barangay Eden Toril District here. 

Baldonado said the recent Avian Flu infection in Magsaysay town in Davao del Sur which is less than a hundred kilometers away from the center “practically brings the threat on their doorstep.”

She said a single case of avian flu in the center can potentially wiped-out all 34 Philippine Eagles that they have right now.

“Thats why we’ve saying that we are on standby for a possible lockdown again if ever there’s a case that will be detected in Davao City because we cannot risk having avian flu in the only captive breeding facility for the Philippine Eagle,” Baldonado said.

“The long-term plan is to really move, Malagos is no longer conducive for breeding wildlife and keeping the birds safe from the Avian Flu threat. In 2017, we had the threat as well so it’s becoming more frequent. To prevent contamination, we need to isolate them,” Baldonado said. 

Right now, according to Baldonado, they are intensifying its bio-security measures where the ‘keepers’ are given access to the eagles in the center. 

These keepers, she said, are assigned to specific eagles; they go to strict measures such as showering, changing into scrubs whenever they come in contact with the eagles.

The center, however, is still open to the public but stricter measures will have to be followed like they do not allow vehicles to come inside the property anymore.

Baldonado also cited some game breeding farms around the 8.4-hectare Philippine Eagle Center which houses 34 Philippine Eagles apart from several other wild bird species making  them susceptible to infection.

“So its not ideal anymore for a long term plan of Philippine Eagle conservation like breeding. And we believe it is high time to secure the population and moved them away from these areas,” Baldonado added.

“We are working with the CPDO (City Planning and Development Office) towards releasing a usufruct which would allow us to use the facility for captive breeding and rescue rehabilitation,” Baldonado said.

PEF is seeking to raise P56 million as an initial budget to start the establishment of a new Philippine Eagle Facility in Eden, Toril.

PEF, meanwhile, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year with the theme #AgiLaya: Lasting Freedom for the Philippine Eagle.

Highlights of the celebration include an exhibit from June 6 to 12 featuring Philippine Eagle conservation milestones at SM Lanang Premier Atrium.