A critically endangered female Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) was rescued by local farmer named Marven Linoy. The eagle was later named after the place where she was found, “Sawaga-Dalwangan”—Sawaga from the nearby Cabanbanagan-Sawaga River and Dalwangan from Barangay Dalwangan.
According to a Facebook post by Merly Suday, on July 3, local farmer Marven Linoy was gathering passion fruit around the area when he heard loud noises coming from the forest. As he checked the area, he found around 30 monkeys or macaques surrounding and attacking what he initially thought was just a chicken. When he took a closer look, he was surprised to discover that it was actually a Philippine eagle lying on the ground.
Marven scared the monkeys away by barking like a dog, causing them to flee and leaving the eagle alone. He thought about leaving the eagle to call for help but decided to stay with her after seeing how it looked frightened and badly injured. He also feared that it would not survive or die alone before he could even return. Marven covered the eagle’s eyes with Anunutong fern leaves and wrapped his jacket around its body for protection.
Marven and other rescuers of the local indigenous community brought the eagle to his home and immediately reported the incident to the authorities, alerting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) to form a rescue operation. After receiving first-aid from Dr. Carmen Tangara, a veterinarian, the eagle was then transferred to a Provincial Zoo in Malaybalay City for specialized treatments, examination, and rehabilitation by the Philippine Eagle Foundation.
Photo from Merly Omarol Suday
PEF said that the eagle was in poor condition when she arrived—she was weak, dehydrated, unable to fly, and had multiple wounds beneath her wings that were already infested with maggots. Her feathers were also broken and stained with soil, suggesting that she had been laying on the ground for some time. However, wildlife experts said that these injuries may also be caused by something else before the attack of the macaques as they also discovered two old pellet gun wounds on the eagle. While they were able to remove one pellet from her wing, the other remained stuck deep in its left thigh.
Jayson Ibanez, Director for Operations of PEF, shared in an interview that macaques usually avoid eagles which makes their behavior in the incident highly unusual. However, it may be even possible that the eagle was already injured, weak, or even trapped in a snare, leaving her unable to defend herself from the macaques.
They have estimated the eagle’s age to be around 5 to 10 years old and weighing approximately 5.57 kilograms. The eagle was given immediate disinfection, treatment, and pain medication to help stabilize her condition while authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of her injuries. She was also tested negative for Avian Influenza, a highly contagious flu among birds.
Photo from Merly Suday
This rescue has also sparked discussions online, with some netizens praising Marven for his bravery and compassion, while others questioned the rescue process that took place, citing the Republic Act of 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
Comment from FB netizen
Comment from FB netizen
Comment from FB netizen
Merly Suday, General Manager of Inhandig Tribal Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ITMPC), was among those who were contacted by Marven and his team and immediately reported the incident to the barangay captain and DENR. She defended Linoy and the community’s actions in saving the bird, explaining that the eagle was in critical condition requiring immediate assistance and that the community never intended to keep the bird as they contacted the authorities to report the incident. She added that while they respect the RA 9147, they also believe that saving the life of an animal in danger was the right thing to do.
Marven handled the situation with bravery and compassion, prioritizing the eagle’s safety and health. Together with the local indigenous community, their actions gave Sawaga-Dalwangan another chance at life, proving that every rescue, no matter how big or small, is a huge step towards protecting the country’s wildlife.
As the Sawaga-Dalwangan continued to recover under the care and supervision of the DENR and PEF, she had regained her ability to eat on her own; she was free from maggot infestation; and, she had completed her antibiotic treatment. She was set to continue her recovery and rehabilitation at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City before experts determine her safety and ability to return into the wild.
But despite her progress in recovery, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) announced the death of Sawaga-Dalwangan last July 18.
The rescue of the Sawaga-Dalwangan serves as a reminder for Filipinos to act responsibly when they encounter an injured or endangered animal and to enforce stricter laws against the illegal hunting and harming of Philippine eagles and other protected wildlife. As the Philippines’ national bird, the Philippine eagle reminds us of our duty as Filipinos to protect and preserve the country’s wildlife.