Pamana shot dead in Mt.Hamiguitan Range

Kuya Kim, the Philippine Eagle Ambassador, led the release of Pamana into the wild last June 2015
Photo by Pete Simpson

Pamana, a Philippine Eagle that was released to its natural habitat, the Mt. Hamiguitan Range in Davao Oriental last June 2015, was found dead with a gunshot on its right breast last Sunday, August 16.

"Her fierce eyes and sharp claws cannot match the piercing of a bullet in her body; a very sad news to know today. Who ever did this put an an end to the perpetuity of a rare and extinct bird specie." said Cynthia Rodriguez , a conservationist based in Davao Oriental.

The 3-year old eagle was aided by the Philippine Eagle Foundation for 3 years after she was found to have suffered two gunshots in Iligan City in  2012. Last June, Pamana was given a chance to live freely into the wild hoping her species will multipy.

According to the PEF, the Philippine Eagle is listed as "critically endangered" in the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

In 2010, the IUCN and BirdLife International listed this species as critically endangered. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature believes between 180 and 500 Philippine eagles survive in the Philippines.They are threatened primarily by deforestation through logging and expanding agriculture. Old-growth forest is being lost at a high rate, and most of the forest in the lowlands is owned by logging companies.Mining, pollution, exposure to pesticides that affect breeding, and poaching are also major threats.

Killing, wounding, hunting or even getting Philippine Eagle's nest are actions against the law as stated in Republic Act 9147 - an act declaring the Phil. Eagle as protected bird in the country.

Below are two photos of Pamana's carcass took by the PEF.