By Gabriela Baron
“Espoir,” a four-month old Philippine Eagle died after being attacked by a snake on Tuesday (April 5) inside its enclosure at the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) in Davao City.
In a statement, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said Espoir was found lifeless Tuesday morning on the floor of its cage.
“The team of animal keepers immediately reviewed CCTV footage to reveal that the chick was attacked by a python,” PEF said.
“The attack happened at 12:13 a.m. in the morning. CCTV footage shows the snake slithering in the enclosure and attacked the eaglet while it was brooding,” it added.
PEF, however, assured that preventive measures are being taken to capture the python through entrapment and through searches conducted in the facility.
The Foundation said the walls of the enclosure have been “snake-proofed.”
“Reticulated pythons are natural resident species inside the Philippine Eagle Center and the surrounding watershed area. They are classified as hazards under the PEC’s biosecurity measures,” PEF added.
“The avian flu is not the only danger the Philippine eagles are facing in the facility in Malagos. Even the area’s resident snakes are a threat especially to eaglets, other raptors, and mammals.”
Inspired by Pag-asa’s name, the first Philippine eagle bred and hatched in captivity, Espoir means hope in the French language.
Espoir hatched on Dec. 4. The eagle was an offspring of Philippine eagles Ariela and MVP Matatag.-ngs
