MIMAROPA

ENRO facilitates turn-over of endangered sea eagle to DENR-CENRO

By Dinnes Manzo

Sunday 22nd of April 2012

ODIONGAN, Romblon, April 22 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government- Environment & Natural Resources Office (ENRO) through ENRO Raynaldo Angel M. De Juan and Raymund G. Inocencio, Wildlife Enforcement Officer facilitated the formal turn-over of the endangered sea eagle to the custody of DENR-CENRO in Odiongan, Romblon.

According to Mr. Julie M. Rafael, a fisherman and resident at Sitio Landing, Barangay Tubigon, he decided to surrender the sea eagle because of his limited financial resources to buy food for the bird. He added that it was captured last April 13 around 2:00 p.m.. at the coastal area of the same barangay.

On April 18, upon the request of Rafael, the municipal government of Ferrol through Municipal Agriculturist Gelito and Agricultural Technologist Rommel F. Faderogaya extended assistance to the said fisherman for the turn- over of the endangered sea eagle to the concerned government authorities located at Odiongan, Romblon.

Based on the documentation of EMS II Raymund G. Inocencio- PG ENRO, the sea eagle was identified as an adult White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) also known as the White-breasted Sea Eagle which possessed a white head, breast, under-wing coverts and tail. The upper parts are grey and the black under-wing flight feathers contrast with the white coverts. The tail is short and wedge-shaped as in all Haliaeetus species. It has brown feathers, chalky white legs, a bluish-gray bill, and gray-feathered breast.

One of the bird's wings measures two feet and nine inches (0.84 meter); the length from head to tail measures two feet and three inches (0.69 meter) and weighs 2.4 kilos.

The bird is in good condition even although the right eye is blind. This bird species is included in the lists of Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora as an endangered species not necessarily threatened with immediate extinction but which could become so unless trade is closely controlled. The distribution of this bird is throughout the Philippines and indigenous to Southeast Asia.

Under the Wildlife Act of 2001 (RA 9147), collecting, hunting, or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives such as White-bellied Sea Eagle without legal documents is illegal. For any person who undertakes illegal acts under this category, the following penalties and/ or fines shall be imposed: imprisonment of six months and one day to one year and a fine of P10,000 to P100,000. (Contributed by Engr. Raymund G. Inocencio, PG-ENRO/DM-PIA IVB, Romblon)