My Community, Our Earth Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus

Mortality of Pithecophaga jefferyi (Philippine Eagle) from 2007-2012

PROPONENTS OF THE PROJECT

de Luna, Janna Keishia D.

Deriquito, Carlos P.

Ko, Scott M.

Mendoza, Ralph Christian M.

Salvador, Patricia Rose C.

Villaceran, Franz Caesar L.

Casas, Camille A.

Green Science Camp

PuteulanusIncendiaExuro (Blue Fire Burners)

SUBCAMP ADVISERS

Limpoco, Marie Analiz April

Ortega, Jose Mari

RESEARCH ADVISER My Community, Our Earth Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus

Michael A. Casas

I. MAP WITH DESCRIPTION

Figure 1: Distribution of P.jefferyiin the Philippines as of 2007-2012 (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3528)

The figure above shows the map of the distribution of the Philippine Eagle in the Philippines. The shaded portions of the map shows the areas where Philippine Eagles have been found.

VII. PROJECT SUMMARY The purpose of this study is to determine the mortality of Pithecophagajefferyi(Philippine Eagle) for the years 2007-2012, the current population of P. jefferyi, and the causes of mortality of P. jefferyi. The information and data needed for My Community, Our Earth Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus

the study were obtained from the Philippine Eagle Center and Philippine Eagle Foundation located at Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City. The total recorded mortality of the P. jefferyi from 2007-2012 is 11 deaths. The reported causes of the deaths of P. jefferyi are mainly gunshot wounds from hunting, and various diseases or medical conditions. This study can raise awareness in the community, that deforestation, pollution, and hunting are quickly diminishing the population of the Philippine Eagle, the pride of our country. This study also enlightens the community on the current situation of Philippine wildlife and biodiversity. The community would realize the importance of our forests, natural resources, and surroundings.

IX. OBJECTIVES This study aims to answer these questions: 1. What is the mortality of Pithecophaga jefferyi for the years 2007-2012? 2. What is the current estimated population of Pithecophaga jefferyi? 3. What are the causes of mortality of Pithecophaga jefferyi?

X. PROJECT METHODS The data on the recorded deaths of Pithecophaga jefferyi from the years 2007- 2012, and the causes of these deaths, were obtained from the Philippine Eagle Center and Philippine Eagle Foundation located at Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City. The additional data on the current estimated population of the Philippine Eagle, the conservation and preservation of the Philippine Eagle, and the ecology of the Philippine Eagle were obtained from various sources on the internet.

XI. FINDINGS AND RESULTS The Pithecophaga jefferyi (Philippine Eagle or Monkey-Eating Eagle), the national bird of the Philippines, is one of the most endangered raptors in the world, and has been included by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN have categorized the Philippine Eagle as “Critically Endangered.” The Philippine Eagle is a raptor endemic to the Philippines, whose habitat or historical range includes the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. As of 2012, there are fewer than 500 Philippine Eagles in the entire country (Global Raptor Information Network, 2012). In comparison to the population of the eagles in 2003, which was roughly estimated to 250-750 individuals, the current population of the eagles has decreased significantly (Bueser et al., 2003). The primary reason for the continuous decrease in the population of eagles is deforestation and habitat loss (Salvador & Ibanez, 2006). These eagles are also being hunted down. They are mainly hunted down for food and for wild bird trade or exploitation, but what’s worse is that they are also hunted down mainly for sport. Most My Community, Our Earth Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus

eagles in the wild that are killed do not reach the age of maturity, and therefore do not have the chance to breed. Pollution also contributes to the decrease in the population of the Philippine Eagle, as it also badly affects their habitats, the forests, around the country. Until today, there is no concrete estimate on the size of the populations of the Philippine Eagle due to the various difficulties in obtaining sufficient data. These problems include the difficulty of access to areas where the birds may be found, insufficient or unreliable data, and inadequately reported methods (Bueser et al., 2003).

Table 1. Philippine Eagle Mortality from 2007-2012 Name of Origin Date of Death Remarks Cause of Death Eagle Kagsabua Brgy. Kaatuan, Lantapan, July 2008 Rehabilitated, Gunshot wound Bukidnon released back Macanudo Philippine Eagle Center 20 Oct 2008 Captive-bred Suspected snake bite Junior Camp Binicalin, Agwood 26 May 2009 Imprinted Systemic Fungal Timber Co., Bo. Alejandro, Infection San Luis, Agusan del Sur Pangyan Brgy. Pangyan, Trento, 26 Sept. 2009 Rehabilitated Septic Shock due to Agusan del Sur multiple gunshot wound Hineleban Philippine Eagle Center Found Captive-bred Gunshot wound November 2009 Kahayag So. Upper Lumbo, Brgy. 18 June 2010 Imprinted Multi-organ failure due to Cabalantian, Arakan Valley, fungal infection North Cotabato Chick#24 Philippine Eagle Center 16 Feb 2011 Captive-bred Malabsorption Sen. Ninoy SenatorNinoy Aquino, 25 March 2011 Rehabilitated Severe fungal infection Aquino SultanKudarat Sibuco Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte 10 May 2011 Rehabilitated Impaction of the gizzard and fungal infection Hagpa So. Hagpa, Brgy. Calabugao, Found October Rehabilitated Gunshot wound Impasug-ong, Bukidnon 2011

Sumilao Sumilao, Bukidnon Found June Wild-caught, Gunshot wound 2012 tagged Based on table 1, the total recorded mortality of the P. jefferyifrom 2007-2012 is 11 deaths. No recorded deaths occurred during 2007. However, two deaths were recorded in 2008, three in 2009, one in 2010, four in 2011, and one in 2012. The causes of the deaths ofP. jefferyi are mainly gunshot wounds from hunting, and various diseases or medical conditions.

XII. PROPOSED ACTIONS As students, we can protect the Philippine Eagle by preserving its habitat through volunteer work in wildlife preservation organizations, such as the Philippine Eagle Foundation; joining activities that promote the protection and preservation of the environment, such as tree-planting; and reducing the amount of pollution around us through our own simple ways, such as practicing proper segregation of waste materials. My Community, Our Earth Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus

Table 2. Conservation Issues and Their Corresponding Strategic Solutions Conservation Issues Strategic Solutions Habitat Loss • Conversion to • Reduce encroachment into forest by giving marginalized and agriculture farmers greater control over the land that they occupy Degradation • Forestry and Illegal • Develop agro-forestry and improved agricultural practices to logging allow more permanent settlement of land cleared for kaingin • Exploitation of and rehabilitate abandoned land forest products • Declare a national logging ban, and develop a national forest • Mining management policy, with foresters restrained to implement it • Development • Promote sustainable use of forest products, including through (urban, industrial, the development of community-based tree farms etc.) • Assess the environmental impact of proposed mines, roads • Pollution/pesticides and other developments, and minimize development at key sites • Enforce laws to prevent river pollution, and promote organic agricultural practices Protected • Gaps in protected • Ensure that NIPAS fully represents the unique biodiversity of Areas area system the Philippines, by covering the main forest types in all seven Coverage • Weaknesses in EBAs and two 5As and reserve • Establish and manage additional IBAs as local protected areas Management management under the Local Government Code • Increase the capacity of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, especially local offices Exploitation • Hunting • Conduct education and awareness programs around key sites, of Birds • Wild bird trade to reduce hunting of threatened species • Strengthen enforcement of CITES and other legislation to combat illegal trade in threatened bird species • Establish nest protection schemes for threatened bird species Gaps in • Outdated • Analyze satellite image or aerial surveys to locate undetected Knowledge information on forest sites, particularly on the most deforested islands and in forest cover lowland Mindanao • Inadequate data on • Survey poorly known islands and sites, to identify new areas threatened birds for conservation action • Study the ecology of Philippine Eagle and other keystone species (Birdlife International, 2012)

As shown in table 2, in order to prevent the extinction of the Philippine Eagle and other endangered birds in the Philippines, deforestation, illegal logging, mining, and pollutants such as pesticides should be banned to protect their habitats. In addition, more protection acts should be implemented in order to preserve the forests in the Philippines as well as furtherprevent deforestation and the exploitation of forest resources. Despite the numerous laws implemented to protect the Philippine Eagle, they are still being hunted, and their habitats are still being destroyed. These laws should be further improved to assure the protection of the Philippine Eagle, of endangered species, and of the forests in the Philippines. My Community, Our Earth Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus

Many wildlife conservation organizations are doing their best in protecting the birds, along with other endangered species around the world, through researches, conservation strategies, and other projects that raise awareness on the current situation of the Philippine Eagle. The Philippine Eagle Foundation, for example, currently practices the following activities to protect the Philippine Eagle: conservation breeding, conservation education, field research, community-based conservation initiative, and other future activities that would support their cause in protecting not only the Philippine Eagle, but also the forests that serve as its home.

XIII. IMPACTS OF THE STUDY This study can raise awareness in the community about the current situation of Philippine wildlife, biodiversity, and our surroundings. People would realize the importance of our forests, our natural resources, and our current environment. This study would show the people that the nearing extinction of the Philippine Eagle could still be avoided, if only each person would contribute to the cause, and help in their own ways in preventing further deforestation and pollution in the country. With this study, the government could improve oncurrent laws and create new ones that would focus on the protection of endangered species and forests in the country. The Philippine Eagle, the pride of the Filipinos and of our country, would not survive without the combined efforts of each person willing to protect it and the forests it calls home.

XIV. REFERENCES BirdLifeInternational(2012). Species Factsheet: Pithecophagajefferyi. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php? id=3528 BirdLifeInternational(2012).Philippine Forests.Retreived on September 18, 2012 from http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/asia_strategy/pdf_downloads/ forestsFO9.pdf Bueseret al. (2003). Distribution and nesting density of the Philippine Eagle Pithecophagajefferyi on Mindanao Island, Philippines: what do we know after 100 years?. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/ ~grier/philippine-eagle-ibis.pdf Global Raptor Information Network(2012). Species account: Philippine Eagle Pithecophagajefferyi. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from http://globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8312 Salvador, and Ibanez(2006). Ecology and conservation of Philippine Eagles. Retrieved on September 18, 2012 from http://cdu.academia.edu/JaysonIbanez/Papers/172494/Ecology_and_conservatio_ of_Philippine_Eagles