Released Philippine Eagle Kagsabua killed in Mt. Kitanglad Range

Davao City – Five months after being released back to the wild in Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, juvenile male Philippine Eagle Kagsabua was killed by a still unidentified suspect.

Since his release last March, Kagsabua has frequented forested valleys near the foothills of Mt. Kitanglad feeding on a variety of prey, including its favorite flying lemur. The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) team has been tracking him via radio transceivers and has observed the eagle.

On July 12, the team went looking for Kagsabua for a scheduled re-trapping. It had been decided earlier to take the eagle further into the forest interior.

According to Jayson Ibañez, field research coordinator of the PEF, the team became alarmed when the tracking device detected Kagsabua’s transmitters in mortality mode. The radio transceiver was receiving rapid signals which meant that the animal has not been moving.

After hours of trekking, the radio and satellite transmitters attached to Kagsabua were found buried in a steep ravine of Mapolo Creek between the towns of Sumilao and Impasug-ong in Bukidnon. The harness connected to the transmitters was gone and a few meters away, nape feathers of a Philippine eagle were found. A piece of abaca rope about three feet long was also seen close to the transmitters.

Kagsabua’s decaying tarsi and his leg band were later found below the black wattle tree where the bird was last seen perching. The retrieval of the transmitters and the leg band confirmed that Kagsabua has been killed.

Sumilao Mayor Marie Ann Baula mobilized the municipal police to conduct preliminary investigations and ordered the Bantay Bayan, and the citizen’s volunteer organization to assist in tracing those behind the crime. The Association of Porters in Sitio Intavas in the neighboring town of Impasug-ong also joined the search operations.

“Kagsabua’s release here in Sumilao has renewed our town’s commitment to a healthy environment. I’m very sad that we lost him because of the ill intentions of the culprit,” Mayor Baula said.

She explained that the immediate arrest of the perpetrator will shed light on why some people still harm the Philippine eagle despite laws and extensive education campaigns protecting our national bird.

Protected Area Superintendent Felix Mirasol has mobilized the Kitanglad Guard Volunteers to continue scouring the mountain range to look for traces of the eagle and search for more evidence.

Mirasol expressed frustration over the crime and has offered a P10,000 cash reward for information leading to the capture of the perpetrator and P5,000 will be given to those who can point to individuals keeping body parts of the eagle.

“We will definitely file a case against the perpetrator. We have to teach people the value of protecting this great bird,” Mirasol said.

Dennis Salvador, PEF executive director, explained that “this incident underscores what we’ve been suspecting for a long time that young eagles die mainly due to human persecution.”

With the rate young birds are dying, Salvador pointed that there is a probability that aging breeding populations will not be replaced and if this continues to happen, the already dwindling eagle population will crash.

“It’s too bad that a single person can undo the efforts of the entire Sumilao community in protecting the bird,” Salvador said, but added that he is hopeful that the culprit will be caught. He believes that the outcome of this case will test the limits of Republic Act 9147or the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.

Section 28 of R.A. 9147 stipulates that those who kill critically endangered species like the Philippine Eagle will face “imprisonment of a minimum of six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and/or a fine of One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to One million pesos (P1,000,000.00).”

Meanwhile, PEF President Lt. Gen. William Hotchkiss III (Ret.) said that the incident reflects the need to further educate people on the importance of the Philippine eagle to the Filipino nation.

“The crime against Kagsabua is a crime done to the Filipino people. The Philippine eagle is a national pride and its persistence reflects how we treat our environment,” Hotchkiss said.

He urged citizens, especially those living near protected areas and critical habitats, to rally behind the protection of the Philippine eagle and called on them to be vigilant against those who seek to harm the bird.

Aside from Kagsabua, a female juvenile Philippine eagle named Tinuy-an, was also released at the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park last June. By Makki Macahis, PEF

Finding tranquility in Hagimit

This lagoon is one of the many spots found in Hagimit waterfalls in Peñaplata, Samal. The blue waters brings calmness in me and makes me think that despite the rushing waters of life, peace awaits in the depths of my soul.

My friends and I have fallen in love to this place and we want to keep on coming back here. It's quite easy to get into this nature haven, and entrance fee only costs P5. And oops, there are no cottages available so you bring your tents.

Adonai

nice song!

low tide treasures

These treasures showed up on a low-tide in Tagnanan Beach, somewhere inside a banana plantation in Davao del Norte. Pebbles, sea shells and corals still abound in the rarely visited area. Families of plantation employees frequent the beach front which is only a few meters walk from the housing site.

Davao Oriental's rich waters

A fisherfolk from Mati, Davao Oriental boasts of his freshly caught octopus, while eight-year old Emjay got curious to hold his newfound friend's catch. He offered to sell it for P400 but no tourists who flocked in Canibad Beach in Samal Island bought it. Too expensive, right?

Isn't this capitol enough?

Here's the provincial capitol of Basilan. Ironically, this humongous edifice is located in Isabela City. Yes, Isabela is part of Basilan only geographically but administratively, it belongs to Zamboanga Peninsula. Some local officials, as I've heard from local folks, are planning to build a new capitol in Lamitan City, which was only recently declared as a city. If they are to make another capitol as big as this (or maybe bigger!), millions will be spent again. And what will become of the present one?

And oh, see the flag? Since that was a Monday, there was actually a little flag ceremony made before I took this photo. Only about four people were present. No governor. No vice-governor. And I don't know who those four people were. To recall, any sane mind won't recognize that as a flag ceremony. There was no singing of the national anthem. The employee bringing the flag just let it roll up to the pole, then that was it! Maybe the officials got so busy preparing for the visit of some Ambassadors from six different countries...hmmm...but they shouldn't forget to honor their own coountry first.

Sun sets in Basilan

I took this photo during my trip to Basilan last November 2006, while on board the Weesam fast craft. The silhouette sunset seemingly hides images of conflict and poverty in this resource-rich land. Taken at around 5 p.m., a number of medium-size vessels docked at the Isabela Port to cater passengers bound for Zamboanga city. Travel time for fast craft to Zamboanga is around 30 minutes, while the slow boat (shown in photo) will take an hour. I'm not sure with the cost of fare for the slow boat but I believe it's cheaper. Fast craft costs P130 with aircondition and DVD movies.

Tidbit: Isabela City isn't really part of Basilan. Though it is geographically located in Basilan island, the city politically belongs to Zamboanga Peninsula. Basilan's capital is Lamitan which was only recently declared its citihood. However, it's weird that the provincial capitol is situated in Isabela! Rumor has it that some high ranking officials will allocate big funds to build another capitol in Lamitan. Wow, that must be big money! Why not spend for more reasonable infrastructure...hmmm...