A juvenile Philippine serpent eagle (Spilornis holospilus) that crash-landed inside a house in Barangay Ilomavis here, near the country’s peak Mt. Apo, was rescued and was released back to the wild on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Lawyer Felix S. Alicer, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 12, said the juvenile bird weighed about 0.6 kilograms with a body length of 20 inches.
Its discovery was reported to the Mount Apo Natural Park-Protected Area Management Office (MANP-Pamo) on the same day it was rescued, prompting a swift response from wildlife authorities. Alicer said the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) Cotabato wildlife rescue team promptly retrieved the eagle and brought it to the City Veterinary Office for medical evaluation.
Dr. Jessa Dell Remonde, DVM examined and found it to be apparently healthy and fit for release. No major injury was detected within its body.
Hence, the eagle was cleared for its return to the wild. The bird was released back to its natural habitat on Tuesday morning, in accordance with wildlife handling protocols.
DENR reminded the public that the species enjoyed protection under Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
Authorities encourage citizens to report wildlife sightings and to support ongoing conservation efforts. A day earlier, a Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), a migratory bird species, was rescued in Barangay Poblacion, Kidapawan City, after crows attacked it and it fell behind a boarding house near a school.
The Penro office in Kidapawan City reported that the bird, weakened from the fall and lack of food, was safely retrieved by Sheila N. Olay, a local teacher, and her husband, who turned it over to Penro.
Alicer said initial assessments showed the heron in good shape but displaying signs of weakness.
As standard protocol, the bird has been put under close observation and temporary care at the Penro facility. The bird is expected to be released back into the wild once it has fully recovered.
Black-crowned Night Herons, which have an average wingspan of 98 centimeters and a body length of about 61 centimeters, are usually found in wetlands such as marshes, lakes, rivers, and tidal flats.