Bukidnon: A Philippine eagle rescued in Bukidnon province is recovering from gunshot injuries and a severe maggot infestation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said, as authorities and conservationists investigate the shooting of the critically endangered bird.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DENR assured that the eagle, named Sawaga-Dalwangan after the area where she was found, has shown significant improvement after weeks of intensive veterinary care under the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF). "Sawaga-Dalwangan is now alert and responsive. She is eating on her own, her wounds are clean, and the maggot infestation is gone. She has completed her antibiotics and other medicines, and there are no signs of an active infection," the PEF reported.
The DENR stated that radiographs taken at the clinic revealed two metallic radiopaque foreign bodies consistent with gun pellets. One pellet was lodged beneath the skin of the right wing and has been successfully removed, while the other remains lodged deep in the left thigh and is being monitored closely. The veterinary team indicated that these findings are consistent with a prior gunshot injury, which will be monitored throughout rehabilitation.
Treatment for the eagle included wound cleaning, repeated removal of maggots and damaged tissue, fluid therapy, antibiotics, pain medication, and assisted feeding. The eagle has tested negative for avian influenza, while laboratory tests for Newcastle Disease and Aspergillosis are still pending. Efforts are underway to determine how it sustained the gunshot injuries. "We will pursue every available avenue to determine how this bird was harmed, strengthen enforcement against illegal shooting, and work with communities to reduce conflict so that our national bird can thrive," said PEF executive director Dennis Salvador.
The DENR Northern Mindanao noted earlier that based on the nature of the bird's injuries, wildlife experts initially assessed that it may have remained grounded for an extended period. This assessment differed from the circumstances described by the rescuer, prompting further investigation to better understand the events leading to the bird's condition.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna recognized the coordinated response that helped save the bird. He thanked the Indigenous Peoples group that first reported and helped retrieve the eagle, highlighting the swift actions of DENR field officers and PEF teams. "We are deeply grateful for their courage and quick reporting of the local residents, and to the prompt responses of the CENRO (Community Environment and Natural Resources Office) team and the Philippine Eagle Foundation," Cuna said.
Sawaga-Dalwangan was rescued on July 3 after the CENRO Valencia City received a report that a local farmer had recovered an injured Philippine eagle near the Cabanbanagan-Sawaga River in Barangay Dalwangan, Malaybalay City. The CENRO report stated that Marven Linoy found the eagle while tending a flower farm with two relatives after hearing loud calls from a troop of monkeys. The group discovered the monkeys mobbing the eagle on the ground, drove them away, secured the bird, and immediately alerted authorities.
The retrieval operation involved personnel from CENRO Valencia City, the Malaybalay City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Barangay Dalwangan, the Provincial Zoo of Bukidnon, Kitanglad Guard Volunteers, the Inhandig Tribal Multipurpose Cooperative, and the PEF, who provided emergency treatment before transporting the eagle to the Provincial Zoo in Malaybalay City. The eagle weighed 5.57 kilograms during its initial examination and was estimated to be a young adult female between five and 10 years old. Veterinarians noted that it was weak, dehydrated, and had multiple wounds with maggots when it was rescued, indicating that the injuries had been sustained for some time.
