Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus
Brgy. Masoc, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Synthesis Paper in Biology III

Extinction of Philippine Eagles

Submitted by:
Precious Anne A. Mabazza

Submitted to:
Melanie M. Calaoitit

March 11, 2019

Pithecophaga jefferyi
 I. Introduction

The declining Philippine forest postured dangers to numerous endemic floral and faunal
species in the country. However before now, more than 85 to 90 percent of the unusual humid
forest extinct because of permitted and especially prohibited logging, the Philippines still has a
natural setting which is the habitat for a very wide variety of diverse birds. Many are to be bring
into being in most other tropical sultry countries, some species are only to be found in this
country. Of the (about) 400 species of birds in the Philippines, several are now very rare and a
good number are greatly endangered.

One of the critically endangered Philippine faunal species is the Philippine Eagle. The
continuous loss of their habitat made them vulnerable to various hazards. Popularly known as
the “Haring Ibon” ( King of Birds), the Philippine eagle is endemic to Luzon, Leyte, Samar and
Mindanao of the Philippine Archipelago. Scientifically known as Pithecophaga jefferyi, the
Philippine Eagle is a tall, huge, broad-winged tropical forest raptor endemic to Luzon, Leyte,
Samar and Mindanao islands of the Philippine archipelago. As a long-lived, late maturing, slow
breeder heavily persecuted in a forest habitat that is rapidly disappearing, the Philippine Eagle
is one of the world’s rarest and most highly threatened bird species.

The Philippine Eagle is a fierce-looking bird stances over 3 feet (1 m) tall and can ponder up
to 9 pounds (4 kg) —bigger than a golden eagle. Bluish eyes, a large, sharp, curved beak, and
a warlike diadem of spiky fuzzes, give the Philippine eagle a conspicuous appearance. Like
most big slayers, the Philippine eagle necessitates a great region for hunting. Philippine eagles
also entail the tallest trees, those which appear above the rain forest shelter, for nesting. They
have a very low reproduction rate, laying just one or two eggs each year. Aside from hunting,
one of the major causes of their extinction is due to habitat loss. The deteriorating forest cover is
taken about by upland trek, logging and mining actions and urbanization.

II. Body

A. DEFORESTATION AND HABITAT LOSS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Deforestation carries on to be the key threat to the long-term persistence of the species.
In the past sixty years, rainforests in the Philippines have been reduced in inverse quantity to
human population growth. Although the relationship is multifaceted, the uninhibited development
of human inhabitants seems to have exaggerated the threats to the country’s lasting forests.
These extortions include: uncontrolled clear-cutting and gathering of forest products, illegal
conversion of forest lands, and fire associated with slash-and-burn agriculture (Malayang 2000).

Department of Environment and Natural Re-sources (DENR 1996) claims that only one
percent of the total forest was lost to illegal logging in 1993. Yet Malayang (2000) believes that
the real figure could be much higher.

In Mindanao Island where most Philippine Eagle inhabitants occur, the rate of human
poverty is projected to be at 50 percent with about two-thirds of the people cultivating the land to
live on (NSCB 2000). Consequently, upland forest areas are continuously harvested for timber
or opened up for cultivation. Relentless government efforts to mitigate further degradation of the
forests, ranging from prevention through social forestry strategies to strengthening enforcement
measures, have largely been insufficient and ineffective in stemming deforestation.

In recent years, political instability, the erosion of peace and order conditions in
Mindanao and economic uncertainty has adversely impacted conservation initiatives in the
Philippines.

B. REASONS TO PROTECT THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE?

It is found nowhere else except in the Philippines where it is the country’s national bird.
Bringing up the rear of the species to extinction would also signify losing a nation’s precious
biological heritage. It represents a rare product of evolutionary creation. Based on current
hereditary studies, it has no nearby relatives left among the living species of eagles in the world.
Losing them would mean an irreparable loss of a unique species. The Philippine Eagle is the
top predator of the Philippine tropical rainforest. It plays a significant role in keeping the
ecosystem in balance and offers an umbrella of security to all other life forms in its territory. The
Philippine Eagle is entrenched in the verbal histories and other racial artifacts of numerous
native groups in the country. This indicates that it performs a role in the human production of
unique cultures. Economically, the presence of a healthy eagle population can also be a source
of livelihood for the communities living near its area through eco- tourism. Healthy forests, in
turn, mitigate the effects of climate change, minimize flooding, help control soil erosion and
provide additional sources of medicine, clothing, food and shelter for our people.

C. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO SAVE THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE?

 Conservation breeding

Breeding eagles in captivity to produce and form young that can be released in habitats
where its populace significantly decreased (restocking) or have deceased out (reintroduction).
We aim to add sexually matured eagles in the wild where they can breed and upsurge their
species’ population.

 Field research

Field research to further appreciate the biological and ecological necessities of the
eagles, the threats they face and how they are reacting to these threats and other vagaries in
their environment. Among the research methods we do are radio and satellite telemetry. These
methods have permitted us to designate and comprehend the actual size of habitats used by an
adult pair, the method by which they use the jungles, and which part of the forests or which
types are designated and avoided, among others. Knowing all of these would allow us to
estimate how many eagles are left in the wild, and how habitats can be consummate and
protected to help the eagles. Indeed, awareness spawned from the natural and social sciences
are the pillars of our preservation movements. Using groundbreaking procedures, modern tools
and, practical apparatuses we aim to generate systematic data to form conservation decisions.
  Conservation education

Furthering public awareness on the plight of the Philippine Eagle is the domain of our
education program. We have launched an education campaign by working with about 1,700
teachers in 579 schools throughout the archipelago. Focusing on teachers to help educate our
children enabled us to reach large numbers of people using limited resources.

D. EFFECT OF THE LOSS OF THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE TO THE HUMAN

WELLBEING?

The Philippine Eagle’s loss in the ecosystem has a weightier hazard on mortal welfare. We
are reliant on on the forest’s resources, from crunches, food source, raw resources for various
industries, and extenuating the impact of climate change. If the forest can’t sustain the
Philippine Eagle’s needs, soon it can’t be responsible for our own. The disappearance of the
eagles reflects a serious and alarming flaw in how people relate to the natural atmosphere and
wildlife. If our behavior and actions remains to stance danger to the persistence of biodiversity, it
won’t be long before we will writhe from our own folly.

E. OBSTACLES TO THE PRESERVATION OF THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE?

Weak putting into practice of the law has been one of the hindrances in stabilizing the
Philippine Eagle. Sanctions for hurting the Philippine Eagles are not firmly implemented. This
has added to the deficiency of cognizance for the people living near the eagles’ home.

Other problems include dogmatic and economic instability in the nation and the erosion of
peace and edict environments in some parts of Mindanao. For organizations like the Philippine
Eagle Foundation (PEF), they rely almost utterly on private assistances to sustain our work.

Locally, the populations living in dearth prevents them to use the jungle assets
conscientiously. Sustainability goals become shelved because they opt to come across their
urgency of attaining basic needs like food, and shelter.

While these circumstances have undeniably stalled our projects, we do not let these
challenges hinder our goals.

F. HOW MANY PHILIPPINE EAGLES ARE LEFT IN THE WILD?

There is roughly 400 pairs of Philippine Eagles left in the barren- and this is only a
conventional estimate on their population.

III. Conclusion

The Great Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi is regarded as one of the most
endangered eagles in the world. Habitat loss and human persecution continue to impact the
species adversely. These problems are complicated further by a number of human-induced
factors. Yet despite these obstacles, sustained conservation initiatives over the years have
begun to yield positive results. The Philippine Eagle has been considered a priority in wildlife
safeguarding not only because it is threatened but because it is evolutionarily erratic. Based on
the results by a study of University of Michigan researchers, they found out that Philippine Eagle
DNA is remotely related to the other five big raptors of the world- the America’s Harpy Eagle,
Crowned Eagle, Solitary Eagle, and the Crested Eagle and the New Guinea Harpy Eagle. The
Philippine Eagle was once congregated with these other five eagles because of their similarity in
size and weight. The Philippine Eagle, stirring in naturally low population densities, high death
rates due to human causes, have made them even more difficult to find in the forests.

The current population standing of the species and threats are delineated in this report. In
situ and ex situ actions linked with the conservation of the species show how these threats are
being addressed. Advances made to further our appreciative of the species’ biology and
ecology are also discussed. With continuing accomplishment in the captive proliferation of the
Philippine Eagle, the program is now in the process of initiating reintroductions. This is projected
to take Philippine wildlife safeguarding into its next level.
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