‘Girlie,’ oldest PH eagle in captivity, receives symbolic senior, PWD cards
MANILA, Philippines — Recognizing her remarkable age, the Quezon City government awarded symbolic Senior Citizen and PWD identification cards to “Girlie,” one of the Philippines’ most iconic Philippine Eagles and believed to be the oldest in captivity at 46 to 47 years old.
The symbolic recognition was held during this year’s Philippine Eagle Week celebration at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC) in Quezon City.
Observed annually from June 4 to 10, Philippine Eagle Week seeks to promote greater public awareness and support for the protection of the Philippine Eagle.
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“It is a recognition as historic as it is moving, and a powerful statement: The Philippine Eagle is not just our national symbol—she is family,” said the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) on Thursday.
“The gesture, part of the opening celebration of Philippine Eagle Week 2026, is deliberately unusual. It turns a bureaucratic object—the government-issued identity card—into a conservation message,” said the PEF.
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Rescued as a juvenile in 1982 after suffering a slingshot injury and wing damage that left her blind in one eye, Girlie the Philippine Eagle has lived under human care for more than four decades.
“In human terms, she is both elderly and disabled. In ecological terms, she is a survivor of the same pressures that continue to diminish her species – injury, captivity, habitat loss and human indifference,” said the PEF.
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The foundation said many Filipinos recognize the respect due to older people and the care and consideration owed to persons with disabilities.
“The ceremony asks them to extend that instinct toward wildlife—not by pretending animals are human, but by accepting that injured, aging and dependent animals also impose duties on society,” said the PEF.
Shared responsibility
Now in her mid-40s, surpassing the typical lifespan of her species, Girlie is regarded as a living symbol of the long-standing partnership between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the PEF.
“Girlie is more than a resident of a city park; she is a living reminder of our shared responsibility,” Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said.
“The DENR will continue to work with partners like the Philippine Eagle Foundation to protect habitat, support science‑based recovery, and bring conservation into the daily lives of Filipinos,” said Cuna.
According to Dr. Glenn Maguad, Girlie’s veterinarian at the park, the eagle is typically distant and cautious around people, including Dr. Glenn, whom she mainly recognizes as a source of food.
She is fed once a day and given live prey every two weeks to help preserve and hone her natural hunting abilities.
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