Of the total area, five hectares have been allotted for the core facility while the rest as a “buffer zone” to serve as an additional layer of biosecurity to ensure the safety of the raptors.
It said that the foundation would keep the PEC in Barangay Malagos as a conservation education site that will remain open to guests who can still view some eagles, particularly those that are retired from breeding.
The new facility “will exclusively operate as a breeding facility for the Philippine eagles” and will be off limits to the public due to the strict implementation of biosecurity measures.
The foundation so far has 32 eagles in the PEC.
PEF said that a single case of infection of Avian Influenza (HPAI) Type A (H5N1) or bird flu in the facility “can wipe out the only captive breeding stock of the species in the world.”
The PEF was alarmed by the outbreak of H5N1 in Magsaysay town, Davao del Sur, located about 90 km southwest of the PEC, in March 2022.
“That brings the threat right at our doorstep and puts all 32 eagles in the PEC at risk of being exterminated. That’s losing 5% of the total estimated global population of endangered birds,” it said.
PEF added that the “game and poultry farms mushrooming around the PEC increases the risk of exposure to highly pathogenic diseases such as Avian Flu.”
“Philippine eagle copulation activities are extremely delicate. The slightest disturbance could cause them to immediately stop and fixate on the source of the disturbance.[]
Activities in adjacent farm lots are disruptive to our Philippine eagle pairs’ breeding activities,” it said.[]
