THE PHILIPPINE Eagle Center in Malagos, Davao City, run by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), is running out of space for its continued breeding program and other conservation initiatives. “There are three pairs being worked on with additional birds programmed for cooperative artificial insemination,” PEF Executive Director Dennis I. Salvador said in an interview. Mr. Salvador said they need to expand the 8.4-hectare facility, but there is no available area nor funding. Ms. Salvador also said that they are still looking for funding sources for the proposed construction of a new facility in a 23-hectare property in Moncayo, Compostela Valley that was donated by siblings Sammy and Alice Yap. The PEC has so far produced seven Philippine eagles through cooperative artificial insemination and 21 through the natural breeding method. As part of its risk management program, PEF, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is sending a pair of Philippine eagles — named Geothermica (male) and Sambisig (female) — to the Jurong Bird Park operated by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS). “This move has been proposed to DENR 10 years ago as part of a larger risk management program for the species’ population,” Mr. Salvador said. DENR and WRS signed the loan conservation agreement last May 20. Geothermica and Sambisig are both captive-bred, which means they are more accustomed to human activities. Apart from being in excellent health, these eagles are considered to be in their breeding prime with Sambisig at 17 years old and Geothermica at 15. The two have already been undergoing a “pairing attempt process” at the Philippine Eagle Center. Geothermica and Sambisig have been adopted birds for over five years by Energy Development Corp. (EDC) and Dow Chemical Philippines, Inc. respectively. — Maya M. Padillo

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