-
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 17 February) — A female Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) rescued in Lanao del Sur has been named Bangsa Bae by environmentalists in the province in honor of the women who fought for the Bangsamoro cause.
A certain Hadji Olama found the eagle on Feb. 9 in Barangay Piyangologan in Marogong, Lanao del Sur and brought it to his home in Barangay East Marogong before asking help from environment officials, Benjamin Alangca of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Community Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Office (BARMM-CENREO) said in a phone interview.
Personnel of BARMM-CENREO and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 9 fetched the raptor from Olama’s house and brought it to DENR-9’s Regional Wildlife Rescue Center (RWRC) in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur, according to Roservirico Tan of DENR-9’s Regional Strategic Communication and Initiatives Office.
Bangsa Bae suffered an injury in its right wing, and the infection had spread beyond the initially affected area based on the assessment made by RWRC veterinarian Dr. Anita Chua.
Chua operated on the eagle’s injury but due to inadequate facilities at the rescue center it had to be brought to the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Davao City on Feb. 12.
While there have been sightings of the Philippine Eagle in BARMM, it was the first time that one was found injured and rescued in the region, Alangca said. (Frencie Carreon/MindaNews)