An adult Philippine Eagle was recently sighted near the forest edges of Barangays Sallab, Imamaling and Don Panaca in Magpet, Cotabato during a monitoring and site assessment conducted from October 15 to 17, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Soccsksargen.
The sighting occurred within the biodiverse Mount Mahuson Range, a key habitat in Mindanao. This marks the second time the same eagle has been documented in the area, first appearing on Oct. 2, 2024, a discovery that came amid growing concerns about poaching threats in the region.
Aside from the Philippine Eagle, the assessment team also recorded other raptor species, including the Philippine Serpent Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Philippine Honey BuzzardΒ and the critically endangered Philippine Hawk-Eagle.
DENR Soccsksargen said theΒ repeated sighting reinforces the ecological value of Mount Mahuson and the urgent need for stronger protections against habitat loss and wildlife trafficking.
“It also underscores the urgent need for stronger protection efforts and collaborative conservation work involving the local community, barangay and municipal governments, and environmental groups to safeguard these rare species and their natural habitat,” it said.
Many Filipinos expressed solidarity with the push to protect threatened raptors.
“Sana maprotektahan. Kesa kinukurakot lang pondo ng bayan dapat ang buhusan ng pondo ay itong conservation ng ating endangered species,” a Facebook user commented.
“Protect them so that may cause just in history and gone in the near future…,” another said.
“Protect this birds , may it prospers in it’s population like the American bald eagle, thanks for sharing,” a Facebook user also wrote.
“Protect our Philippine raptors at all cost,” another said.
βWith Lea Devio, Rosette Adel
