Leyte: The release of Philippine eagles in Leyte will establish protocols for repopulating the national bird, an official of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said on Wednesday. Jayson Iba±ez, PEF director of operations, noted that their experience in Leyte seeks to apply experimental methods, crucial in restoring the raptor’s population.

According to Philippines News Agency, the PEF will implement new protocols based on practices recommended by raptor experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Kenya. Iba±ez expressed hope that with these new methodologies, the eagles would not stray far from the release site, unlike the case of ‘Uswag.’

He referred to the immature male eagle ‘Uswag,’ who wandered too far and drowned at sea in Cebu just a month after his release in June last year from the forest of Burauen, Leyte. Iba±ez explained, ‘There are ways to ensure that eagles will not go far. We will make an artificial nest since the nest is the center of activities for eagles. Food, such as rabbits, is available in the artificial nest. We must train them that food is abundant in the area while they are still learning how to hunt food on their own.’

The release of Philippine eagles in pairs is also expected to increase their chance of survival, as raptors typically hunt for food in pairs. The PEF aims to release a maximum of eight pairs, or 16 birds, over five years within the Anonang-Lobi Mountain Range in Leyte. The goal is to establish a self-sustaining population of the national bird.

The program was launched in June 2024, marking the historic release of Philippine eagles ‘Carlito’ and ‘Uswag.’ While the female eagle ‘Carlito’ successfully adapted to the Leyte landscape, the male ‘Uswag’ wandered too far and accidentally crash-landed in the sea.

On March 21, three Philippine eagles arrived in Burauen after an 18-hour land journey from the PEF center in Davao City. They were placed in a temporary holding cage in the mountains of Burauen to acclimatize before their release in June, coinciding with the celebration of Philippine Eagle Week.