Only a few days away from its scheduled release to the wild, a Philippine Hawk Eagle that was rescued in a buy-bust operation in Talisay City last week succumbed to stress and died in its cage Sunday morning.
The eagle and other endangered birds, were brought to the home of Loy Madrigal, the province’s environment task force chief, in barangay Busay, Cebu City. He said the eagle refused to eat which worsened its condition.
“The birds really looked weak probably from the fatigue it sustained from travel. Especially that these came all the way from Mindanao,” he told reporters.
“We bought them food and meat. You could see signs that they’re weak. So we’re just waiting for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to get the creatures and take them to where they won’t be disturbed, Madrigal said.
A second Philippine Hawk Eagle, six white Umbrella Cockatoos, a Crested Serpent Eagle and a young Amethyst Brown Dove were turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7), said Madrigal.
Endemic
Charges were also filed yesterday by DENR authorities against Stephen Ng Sy and Alberto Primor for collecting the birds, mostly endangered and endemic of various species, without permits.
Their possession of these birds is a violation of Section 27 of Republic Act Number 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
Sy, 34, and Primor, 27 brought the birds to a gasoline station in barangay San Roque, Talisay City last Friday after Madrigal posed as a buyer.
They offered two Philippine Hawk-Eagles for P6,000 each, the cockatoos for P1,000 each, the Crested Serpent Eagle for P2,500 and the young Amethyst Brown Dove.
Both men are detained at a holding cell inside the Capitol compound. Madrigal said he expects them to post bail today.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora listed the Philippine Hawk Eagle as “vulnerable” to extinction and the Umbrella Cockatoo or White Cockatoo as “endangered.”
Under RA 9147, collecting, hunting or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives is punishable by law.
Related Stories:
Illegal trade of exotic, native birds
World Migratory Birds Day: Olango Island vital stop of migratory birds