Wildlife lovers feel pain in the face of the deceptive destruction of ruthless individuals. Here in the Philippines, we might be about to say goodbye to another bird. Unfortunately, it is a rare species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
People who study birds call the endangered creature Pithecophaga jefferyi. The first of these terms means "to eat monkeys" and refers to the specific diet of that bird. Live monkeys are a common menu item. This flying creature is known as the "monkey-eating eagle".
A close-up of this bird is impressive. In adulthood, it measures one meter from bill to tail and has a wingspan of three meters. The "monkey eater" is considered by many to be the largest of the eagle family (although the bald eagle may be heavier). The male of this species has dark brown feathers on the upper body and whitish-beige feathers on the bottom. The eagle, on the other hand, has darker and lighter feathers and a white chest.
Near Mount Apo, the highest peak in the Philippines, there is an eagle research center called "Summer Camp". Here you can see the zookeepers feeding the eagle and eating the monkeys. When workers throw a chicken, domestic cat, or pigeon at a giant wire carcass, the bird comes out and catches it with one foot. This eagle's spear-shaped claws wreak instant disaster on any creature it chooses for food. A lump on the neck lifts the prey and quickly disappears.
Why the danger of extinction?
Just a few years ago, this huge winged creature was about a hundred years old. But now, based on real-world observations in the rainforests of the island of Mindanao, they have dropped to around 40, maybe less. Some are resisting in parts of the Sierra Madre on the island of Luzon. But these areas are inaccessible to humans.
The Red Fact Sheet, a quarterly supplement to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, provides information on endangered wildlife. In the list of the most endangered species in the world, the monkey-eating eagle occupies a high position. With a reported annual death rate of 19.6 birds, this eagle could very well be extinct in two or three years.
What is responsible for the decline? To some extent, the bird is responsible for its own breeding habits. The female lays an average of one egg per year and has a useful life of about forty years. And so far, he has not been bred in captivity.
However, the eagle's most important enemy is man. He comes in the form of the guest hunter, hunter-gatherer, busy officer, unscrupulous lumberjack and kainginero, a nomadic farmer who follows the lumberjack and practices "slash and burn."
Hunters have different reasons. These eagles are sought after by zoos and pets. A lot of people want to stop and put them together like indoor trophies. Self-treatment which requires skill brings prestige. In addition, the bird offers a very high price in the world market. The prices available in Europe are $ 1 million for a single eagle.
Loggers also bear their share of the responsibility. The Philippines now loses 170,000 acres of forest each year. The island of Mindanao accounts for more than half of this loss, 90,000 hectares. It is believed that this deforestation is the main cause of the disappearance of the monkey-eating eagle.
Conservation efforts
As the danger of extinction approaches, steps have been taken to rescue this large bird. Why? On the one hand, many are beginning to understand that what is happening to wildlife is closely related to human well-being. "Humanity has gripped the thread on the amazing web of life on earth," read an article in Reader's Digest of June 1975. To illustrate this, the text commemorated the destruction of the lynx by wolves, deer hunting deer, in Europe. As a result, deer populations have increased and caused significant damage to forests and commercial crops. In addition, in the UK, declining numbers of common frogs have led to an increase in pests.
In the Philippines, preserving an eagle that feeds on monkeys means setting up its rain forest, which also means calming the ground.
The law applicable to the conservation of this bird is already in force. It includes bans and restrictions on deforestation in national parks, as well as other strict hunting and trafficking measures. The conservation campaign organized by the director of the Global Fund for Natural Resources recently received support. It is an ongoing information / education program presented by radio, newspapers, brochures, posters, and public exhibitions and photographs and other materials.
It has now become a crime to catch, possess, injure or kill an eagle that eats monkeys. A Reuters report from Manila states: “Filipino wildlife officials are looking forward to a three-year plan. . . helped save eagles that ate monkeys in danger of extinction. . . . Authorities said more than a dozen birdhouses were protected by parks and wildlife rangers and protected from hunters and predators. There were also recommendations for eagle reserves and recommendations for conserving forest areas for use by eagles and other wildlife.
Fortunately, more and more people are taking responsibility for conserving wildlife and space. Because of your sincerity and diligence, it may not be necessary to say goodbye to another bird.