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DAVAO CITY: The Philippine Eagle Foundation has confirmed the sighting of a new family of the country’s national bird in the Lupon forest, Davao Oriental.
Three Philippine eagles have been sighted during a four-day assessment of potential tourist sites in the area conducted by the province from December 7-10, 2020.
According to Eden Jhan Licayan, the provincial photographer, a young Philippine eagle was first spotted, perched in a tree near its nest as it issued a peaceful call.
During the second day of evaluation, Licayan and his team saw two more eagles, flying over the forest canopy, that are larger than the first sighted.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jason Ibáñez, Director of Research and Development for the Philippine Eagle Foundation, confirmed that they were, in fact, Philippine eagles, based on their plumage and general appearance.
He said the eagle family is within the Mount Kampalili-Puting Bato Key Biodiversity Area of Davao Oriental, which is one of the few large habitats for Philippine eagles in Mindanao.
Davao Oriental is known to host a sizable population of Philippine eagles, including the rescued Mal’lambugok, which was released in Caraga Municipality in September.
Ecotourism has been considered by the province as one of the key means of preserving its natural resources and promoting community stewardship and stewardship of these valuable resources, while providing alternative livelihoods for locals and promoting peace in the community.
The provincial government sees the potential of the area for bird watching, which has both economic and conservation potential.
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