Location: Philippine Eagle Center, Malagos, Bagio District, Davao, Republic of the Philippines.
Date: July 05, 2014.
Author: Alvin.
As a kid growing up in the province of Rizal, I am always amazed at a sight of a soaring hawk or an owl at dusk hunting for rats in the rice fields just a few meters away from our home. Soaring high and patiently waiting, then all of a sudden, they plummet to capture their prey. They use their strong grip, sharp claws, and glaring eyes as a lethal weapon in killing their preys. Being at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao flashes back those childhood memories. The amazement of how majestic these birds are.
It only took us 25 minutes to reach the Center since we were staying in Biao Guianga, Tugbok District in the city of Davao. We rode a jeepney (Php 10.00 each) going to Calinan market, where we took a habal-habal ride (Php 30.00 one way for 2) to the Davao City Water District. There's an entrance fee of Php 5.00 for adults and Php 3.00 for children that you will pay at the DCWD gate. From this point on you will need to walk a minute or two to reach the Philippine Eagle Center. The current entrance fee at the Philippine Eagle Center is Php 100.00 for adults and Php 50.00 for children. The trip to the Philippine Eagle Center is part of our Davao Adventure itinerary and I did make sure that we visit the area. We put it on our last day of stay in Davao. Needless to say I can't hide my excitement!
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| Philippine Eagle "Haribon" |
It only took us 25 minutes to reach the Center since we were staying in Biao Guianga, Tugbok District in the city of Davao. We rode a jeepney (Php 10.00 each) going to Calinan market, where we took a habal-habal ride (Php 30.00 one way for 2) to the Davao City Water District. There's an entrance fee of Php 5.00 for adults and Php 3.00 for children that you will pay at the DCWD gate. From this point on you will need to walk a minute or two to reach the Philippine Eagle Center. The current entrance fee at the Philippine Eagle Center is Php 100.00 for adults and Php 50.00 for children. The trip to the Philippine Eagle Center is part of our Davao Adventure itinerary and I did make sure that we visit the area. We put it on our last day of stay in Davao. Needless to say I can't hide my excitement!
The Philippine Eagle Center
The Philippine Eagle Center is an eight-hectare rain forest land that serves home to the great Philippine Eagle. The center takes care and breed the Philippine eagle which are critically endangered. It also houses other eagles, owls, dears, boars, monkeys, and a huge saltwater crocodile a few walks away from the entrance. Just right beside the cashier is the snack and souvenir shop. Simulating a tropical rain forest environment, the Center offers the visitor a glimpse into the country’s forest ecosystem. Although the exhibits are used primarily to help educate the Filipino people on conservation, the facility is also considered a major tourist attraction in Davao City.
To know more, visit: www.philippineeagle.org
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| Pag-asa (Hope), the first raptor bred in captivity at the center in 1992. A hope for the Philippine Eagles. |
The Philippine Eagle
The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), also known as the monkey-eating eagle, is an eagle of the family Accipitridae endemic to forests in the Philippines. This eagle with a brown and white-colored plumage, and a shaggy crest, really is a big raptor. It generally measures 86 to 102 cm (2.82 to 3.35 ft) in length and weighs 4.7 to 8.0 kilograms (10.4 to 17.6 lb). It is the largest eagle in the world in terms of length. Among the rarest and most powerful birds in the world. In 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos declared it as the Philippine national bird. It is critically endangered, because of massive loss of habitat due to deforestation in most of its range. Killing a Philippine eagle is punishable under Philippine law by 12 years in jail and heavy fines.
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| Philippine Eagle Center |
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Mindanao, named after the island of Mindanao in southern Philippines, is a male Philippine Eagle hatched on December 10, 2001. These eagles are found only in the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.
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Photo op with Mindanao
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| An Eagle with its prey |
Frequently soars above the forest and feeds on any medium small to medium large animals including snakes, birds, and a variety of mammals. The Philippine eagle was known initially as the Philippine monkey-eating eagle because it was believed to feed on monkeys almost exclusively; this has proven to be inaccurate. This may be because the first examined specimen was found to have undigested pieces of a monkey in its stomach. The Philippine Eagle sits on top of the food chain and is considered the barometer of the health and well-being of the forest ecosystem. Studies have shown that a pair of eagles maintain a forest territory of about 130 square kilometers. Only 500 are estimated to remain throughout the country. Help save the eagles by saving their forest homes.
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| Kaibigan (Friend), is a female Philippine Eagle hatched on December 23, 1999. Its parents: Robinhood(male) and Biomate(female) |
Back in the wild the Philippine Eagle's nests are large structures made of sticks built on main forks of the tree or on a platform provided by ferns and orchids. The female lays a single egg once every two years incubation takes 56 to 60 days, the longest incubation period recorded for eagles. The female matures sexually at five years of age and the male at seven. The Philippine eagle is monogamous. Once paired, a couple remains together for the rest of their lives. If one dies, the remaining eagle often searches for a new mate to replace the one lost.
A Philippine Eagle couple and a chick back in the wild
Other Wildlife at the Center
The center has 36 Philippine Eagles, 18 of which are captive-bred. 10 other species of birds can be found here, as well as 4 species of mammals, and 2 species of reptiles.Other animals at the Center
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| A huge Saltwater Crocodile near the entrance |
(Crocodylus porosus), also known as saltie, estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile, is the largest of all living reptiles, as well as the largest terrestrial and riparian predator in the world. This sleeping fellow will greet you before you reach the enclosure of Pag-Asa(first captive-bred Philippine Eagle).
White Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus Leucogaster)
The white-bellied sea eagle is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It can be found in India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Australia on coasts and major waterways. They feed on carrion and a wide variety of animals. This bird is common in the Center.
Crested Serpent Eagle(Spilornis cheela)
The crested serpent eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia. It has a widespread range across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia. They got their name because of often consuming snakes as food.
Pinskers Hawk Eagle(Nisaetus Philippensis)
The Pinsker's hawk-eagle is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. It is most closely related to the Philippine hawk-eagle.It lives in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. This eagle is threatened because of habitat loss.
Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle(Ichthyophaga Ichthyaetus)
The Grey-Headed Fishing Eagle is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. They live and breed in the forests of the Indian subcontinent east to Southeast Asia. It builds its nest in a tree near water and lays two to four eggs. It feeds on fish which hunts over lakes, lagoons, and large rivers. This bird is the loudest bird in the Center.
Brahminy Kite(Haliastur Indus)
The Brahminy Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Adults have a reddish brown plumage and a contrasting white head and breast. They are found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. They are found mainly on the coast and in inland wetlands where they feed on dead fish and other prey. The most common bird of prey that I've seen in any wildlife sanctuary in Davao.
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
The Barn Owl is a species of owl in the Tytonidae family. It is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. These owls are medium to large sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. There are 16 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in the Philippines. It is nocturnal over most of its range but in some regions, it also hunts by day. They are specialize in hunting their preys on the ground and nearly all of their food consists of small mammals, mainly rodent, which they locate by sound. This is the kind of owl that I usually see in the rice field when I was a kid.
Giant Scops Owl(Otus Gurneyi)
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| An adult Giant Scops Owl (L) and a baby Giant Scops Owl (R) |
The Giant Scops Owl is a species of owl in the Strigidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. In size and structure, it is considered intermediate between a scops owl and an eagle-owl. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Habitat loss is the main threat to this owl.
Philippine Brown Deer(Rusa Marianna)
The Philippine Brown Deer is a species of deer endemic to the forests and grassland on most larger island of the Philippines. It is classified as vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting. The deer's color is brown but it has been reported that in Mindanao, its coat is pale, sandy grey. Between 1770 and 1774 the Philippine brown deer was introduced to Guam by the Spanish governor Mariano Tobias as a game species. Ironically it is over populated in many areas of Guam compared in its native Philippines.
Philippine Warty Pig(Sus Philippensis)
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| © Shankar |
The Philippine Warty Pig is a member of the Suidae family. It is one of four known pig species endemic to the Philippines. It has two pairs of warts, with a tuft of hair extending outwards from the warts closest to the jaw. They live in remote forests due to loss of habitat and hunting.
Philippine Long-Tailed Macaque(Macaca Fascicularis Philippensis)
The Philippine long-tailed macaque is a subspecies of the crab-eating macaque. It is found in most Philippine islands. Its tail has an average length of 50cm to 60cm. It can reach a height of 40-50cm (16-20 in). Male macaques weigh 4-8kg, but females only attain 3-4 kg. It's been told before that they are the favorite food of the great Philippine eagle also known as monkey-eating eagle.
Flora and fauna at the Philippine Eagle Center
The Philippine Eagle Center is home not just to rescued Philippine Eagles and wildlife. The Center is full of plants and trees that form a natural habitat to many other wonderful animals!
We sure did enjoy our visit to the Philippine Eagle Center. The adventurer in me is alive once more. Exploring and learning a lot from these animals makes me want to know more and to help in preserving the wildlife around us not only for our future generation but for these species' future as well.
How to get there?
If you don't have a car or van, take the public transportation. From downtown Davao ride a jeepney or van going to Calinan market. You can ride a van from Bangkerohan going to Calinan market for Php 45.00. From Calinan there are several tricycles and habal-habal available to take you to the Davao Water District. Tricycle charges Php 10.00 each and habal-habal charges Php 30.00. You will then take a short walk to get to the Philippine Eagle Center. The trip to PEC will take 40 minutes to an hour from downtown Davao.
So if you are planning to go to Davao make sure that you will include the Philippine Eagle Center in to your itinerary. Have fun and enjoy life to its fullest!
Malagos, Baguio District,
Davao City 8000 Philippines
Contact Philippine Eagle Foundation Office
VAL Learning Village, Ruby St., Marfori Heights,
Davao City 8000 Philippines
Telephone: (+63 82) 224-3021
Telefax: (+63 82) 224-3022
Email: phileagle@pldtdsl.net
Web: www.philippineeagle.org
Reference:
www.philippineeagle.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_eagle
http://en.wikipedia.org
Photo credits ©enjoyinglifetoitsfullest.blogspot.com™ and ©shankar
All rights reserved. 2014