International Breeding Programm for Philippine eagle ?

They have 400 captive eagles in one facility and they haven’t sent any of them elsewhere yet? I’m glad they’re finally mulling it over now, but avian flu outbreaks are not a new phenomenon... nor are any number of other natural disasters that could singlehandedly level that whole aviary.
 
They have 400 captive eagles in one facility and they haven’t sent any of them elsewhere yet? I’m glad they’re finally mulling it over now, but avian flu outbreaks are not a new phenomenon... nor are any number of other natural disasters that could singlehandedly level that whole aviary.
you've misread the article. It is saying there is a world population of 400 birds, not 400 birds captive in the facility.

IUCN gives population figures:
Bueser et al. (2003) estimated the population on Mindanao to number 82-233 pairs. Numbers elsewhere are tiny: perhaps six pairs on Samar, two on Leyte and probably very few on Luzon, giving a total population size of perhaps 90-250 pairs, or 180-500 mature individuals, roughly equating to 250-750 individuals in total.

The captive facility seems to have about 35 or 40 birds. Someone else may have an actual figure.
 
you've misread the article. It is saying there is a world population of 400 birds, not 400 birds captive in the facility.

The captive facility seems to have about 35 or 40 birds. Someone else may have an actual figure.

Thanks for pointing that out. That does make a considerable difference in their ability to spare birds, although I still think that they should try and disperse the population so that they are less vulnerable to chance events.

Are any eagles held in Philippine zoos, or is the aviary in Malagos the only captive population?
 
I hope former keepers Zoo Antwerp will receive a couple. A zoo in the Netherlands would be perfect, but Antwerp a relativly easy to travel.
 
It is about thirty years since I last saw a monkey-eating eagle; I’ll never get used to calling the species Philippine eagle.

See the link below for a very interesting article, published by International Zoo News, about the history of this species in captivity outside the Philippines. London Zoo was the first to acquire the species in 1909.

Monkey-Eating Eagles in Captivity
 
Specifically, it is about sending some of the captive birds overseas.
I do not believe that currently other facilities hold any eagles.

At the Malagos facility, 7 birds are actually on exhibit and in the off exhibit breeding facilities are all other eagles. There are also some other wildlife visible to the public like long-tailed macaques and Philippine brown deer. There is a small visitor center and an educational hall.

Till date 28 eagles have hatched here.
 
I hope former keepers Zoo Antwerp will receive a couple. A zoo in the Netherlands would be perfect, but Antwerp a relativly easy to travel.


Don't think Antwerp would be the most obvious choise and guess Singapore or southern USA would be a much better choise because of the climate.
 
Great news, Philippine Eagle is low density species and will realistically never recover in the wild much above the current population of low 100s. The species will always need a large zoo population to be safe.

Singapore, International Centre of Birds of Prey, Tierpark Berlin, Sand Diego WAP or some zoos in California or Florida would be good. All have good experience with breeding exotic raptors and international cooperation. I would not put eagles into any zoos which only have tropical climate but lack resources and experience.
 
It is about thirty years since I last saw a monkey-eating eagle; I’ll never get used to calling the species Philippine eagle.
It will always be Monkey-eating Eagle to me as well, although I understand the reasoning behind the change which was to instill a sense of national pride in the bird (it was made the National Bird in 1995) and to try and get the local populace behind protecting it and its habitat. Supposedly they mainly feed on Colugos as well, and the name "monkey-eating" was reportedly seen as derogatory and therefore disruptive to the "national pride" angle.
 
Great news, Philippine Eagle is low density species and will realistically never recover in the wild much above the current population of low 100s. The species will always need a large zoo population to be safe.

Singapore, International Centre of Birds of Prey, Tierpark Berlin, Sand Diego WAP or some zoos in California or Florida would be good. All have good experience with breeding exotic raptors and international cooperation. I would not put eagles into any zoos which only have tropical climate but lack resources and experience.
I was also tending towards those zoos and facilities with a good track record in birds of prey husbandry and captive-breeding. So, your choices are spot on there.
 
It will always be Monkey-eating Eagle to me as well, although I understand the reasoning behind the change which was to instill a sense of national pride in the bird (it was made the National Bird in 1995) and to try and get the local populace behind protecting it and its habitat. Supposedly they mainly feed on Colugos as well, and the name "monkey-eating" was reportedly seen as derogatory and therefore disruptive to the "national pride" angle.
Yes, I am aware of the reasoning behind the change of name but I regularly saw the species labelled as monkey-eating eagle at London Zoo, as child in the 1960s, so still think of that as the name.

Moreover, "monkey-eating" is, of course, a literal translation of the generic name Pithecophaga (although their main diet is colugos).
 
Great news, Philippine Eagle is low density species and will realistically never recover in the wild much above the current population of low 100s. The species will always need a large zoo population to be safe.

Singapore, International Centre of Birds of Prey, Tierpark Berlin, Sand Diego WAP or some zoos in California or Florida would be good. All have good experience with breeding exotic raptors and international cooperation. I would not put eagles into any zoos which only have tropical climate but lack resources and experience.


This hardly seems like 'great news'?

Maybe for zoochatters but certainly not the species itself!
 
This hardly seems like 'great news'?

Maybe for zoochatters but certainly not the species itself!

I think Jurek meant that the main piece of information in the article - that the Philippines is considering dispersing their captive eagle population globally - is great news, not that the eagle being on the verge of extinction is. Maybe this can be chalked up to confusing punctuation? ;)
 
As Coelacanth18 said, I was happy about the prospect of international cooperation.

Philippine Eagle is one species which will forever require both aviary populations and protection in the wild. There is simply too little natural habitat left in Philippines.

It is very good that Philippine people are open to international cooperation. Some other countries seem to hoard their animals: I cannot protect them in the wild very well, but I don't allow to export any abroad. Philippines are like a cooperative spirit of European conservation.
 
I assume the whole process will be along the lines of similar MOU's in the past.
A welcome development.

Aside, it might be advisable to have a second captive-breeding facility on the Philippines too.
 
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