The Philippine Eagle is a giant forest raptor endemic to the Philippines. It is considered one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. Unfortunately, it is also one of the world's rarest and certainly among its most critically endangered vertebrate species.
The Eagle is known to be geographically restricted to the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. These islands were once connected to each other during the mid-Pleistocene when the sea level was lower by 120-160 meters than at present.
The species is charcterized by massive arched beak and long lanceolated crown feathers which can be raised to form a crest. individuals vary in size but average about a meter in length and have a wing spanof the around two meters. Wtih long tail feathers and broad wings, it is supremely adapted to foraging with high manueverability in the forest. it is often found soaring above the forest canopy.
Adults are generally dark brown withdorsally, withpaler margines of the feathers, The rectrices are dark brown with wide dark bands at the tips. The underparts of the body are buffy white. While the thigh and leg feathers have indistinct reddish brown shaft stripes. The beak is dark blue; the legs and feet are yellow; talons black; and the iris blue-gray.
Due to massive deforestation, only a handful of these birds are living in the wild. Due to the sharp decline in population, The Philippine Eagle Foundation was established in 1987. The Philippine Eagle Foundation is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the species through research, rehabilitation, propagation and preservation of the eagle's habitat.
After 14 years of learning and developing methods of captive propagation of this species, the Foundation's hard work has paid-off. The world's first captive-bred Philippine eagle was hatched in 1992 at the Philippine Eagle Research and Nature Center at Malagos, Davao City. The staff promptly named the eaglet "Pag-Asa" - meaning "Hope."
