14/07/2026
RACE TO SAVE 🦅
An adult female Philippine Eagle is receiving intensive veterinary care after residents found her severely weakened near the Sawaga River in Barangay Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
The eagle was turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on July 3, 2026. Government personnel, Indigenous communities, local volunteers, the provincial zoo, and the Philippine Eagle Foundation worked together to bring her in for specialized treatment.
She was unable to fly and showed signs of severe exhaustion and dehydration. Soil on her chest, belly, and damaged feathers suggested that she had been stranded on the ground for several days.
Veterinarians found wounds on both wings heavily infested with maggots. Larvae were also discovered near the base of her tail and around her vent. The medical team cleaned and disinfected the wounds, removed maggots, administered fluids, and provided pain medication.
After her condition stabilized, she underwent X-rays, blood tests, parasite screening, and other diagnostic procedures in Davao City. Veterinarians and animal keepers continue to monitor her and remove remaining larvae to prevent further tissue damage.
The eagle was named Sawaga-Dalwangan after the river and community where she was rescued. Her condition remains uncertain, and the cause of her injuries has not yet been confirmed. Veterinary and forensic examinations are ongoing, along with an investigation into possible wildlife-law violations.
Dalwangan lies within the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park, one of the Philippine Eagle’s historic nesting areas. Breeding activity has been documented there since 1986.
With fewer than 400 breeding pairs estimated to remain in the wild, every adult Philippine Eagle is important to the survival of the critically endangered species.
Sawaga-Dalwangan’s rescue shows how fast action and cooperation can give endangered wildlife a chance to survive.
Photo Courtesy: Merely Omarol Suday
