Pag-Asa the Philippine Eagle Has Died. He Was 28 Years Old
The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) has announced the death of Pag-asa, the world's first Philippine eagle to be hatched and bred in captivity. He was 28 years old. The Philippine eagle died on January 6, 2021.
Pag-asa was hatched on January 15, 1992, to much publicity, as he represented the country's first and only conservation effort for the survival of the raptor species. The hatching was so momentous that then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte declared January 15 as Philippine Eagle Day or Pag-asa Day in Davao City.
According to PEF, the raptor died of infections associated with trichomoniasis and aspergillosis, which are fatal for raptors.
Conservators deemed Pag-asa not suitable to be released to the wild because he had imprinted on his human keeper, Eddie Juntilla. Pag-asa was instrumental in the study and breeding of Philippine eagles. He had one offspring, which hatched in March 2013.
Philippine eagles are the rarest species of eagles in the world. They are critically endangered and have an estimated 400 pairs left in the wild. The eagles take five to seven years to sexually mature and can live up to 40 years in captivity. They have a lower survival rate in the wild because of habitat loss and poaching.
