Villagers rescue ailing Philippine serpent eagle in Zamboanga del Norte

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, Philippines — Environment authorities have taken into custody an ailing Philippine serpent eagle (Spilornis holospilus) after residents rescued the raptor when it repeatedly plummeted to the ground in Barangay Manil of Leon B. Postigo town in Zamboanga del Norte on Wednesday, October 7.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Maribel Acama said local residents first spotted the eagle struggling to fly over the village around 9 a.m.

According to Ryss Silvano, a resident who alerted CENRO Liloy at around 10 a.m., onlookers initially tried to assist the bird and encourage it to take flight. The raptor, however, failed to maintain its balance and fell to the ground once more.

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Realizing the eagle was visibly exhausted, residents contacted environmental officers for proper intervention. At around 6 p.m. the same day, resident Allan Lumasay formally turned over the bird to CENRO Liloy personnel.

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Initial physical examination by the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Unit (PAMBCU) revealed that the eagle was in poor health. While no external wounds or scratches were found, the raptor showed signs of weakness and severe malnutrition. A visible white film covered its left eye, suggesting impaired vision.

The bird has been secured at the CENRO Liloy Wildlife Holding Facility for close monitoring, health evaluation, and rehabilitation under Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.

While the Philippine serpent eagle—a raptor species endemic to the country—is currently classified as “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), local authorities stressed that protecting individual wildlife remains vital to maintaining ecological balance.

CENRO Liloy reiterated its call for the public to immediately report sick, injured, or distressed wildlife to the nearest Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office rather than keeping them in captivity or attempting handling without proper training. /cb