The Philippine Eagle Foundation is holding a Virtual Run with Dr. Bob Kennedy as a fundraiser for the relocation of several Philippine Eagles to a bio-secure location in Eden, Toril District, Davao City.
Dr. Bob Kennedy, noted ornithologist and Philippine Eagle conservation champion will hold a 102-kilometer Solidarity Run for Peace, Health and the Philippine Eagle. He will trace the Bataan Death March Route from August 6 to 7 to help promote and generate support for Philippine Eagle Conservation.
The PEF has partnered with the Virtual Race PH to join Dr. Bob Kennedy in his run.
Those who would join the solidarity run will have to register with Virtual Race PH they would run, walk jog or treadmill 35 kilometers in 35 days.
“You have to finish this in 35 days, it can be cumulative or one-time if you are a running enthusiast if you can run 35 days in a day or two,” said Andi Baldonado, Project Development Officer of the Philippine Eagle Foundation.
One hundred pesos of the P750 registration fee for the solidarity run will be funds for the emergency relocation plan of the Philippine Eagle captive breeding population from its present location in Malagos to a more bio-secure location in Eden, Toril District.
“This is very costly kelangan naming magraise ng funds, we really encourage everybody to register,” Baldonado said.
For those wanting to support the Philippine Eagles and join the virtual run, they can register at this site- https://virtualraceph.com/event/vrph-juan-race-2022-mindanao-leg/
The PEF has targeted a budget of P56 million for the relocation but Baldonado said the estimates were done in 2020 and with the rising oil prices and inflationary adjustments they would be adding 40% to the original budget.
The current Malagos location of the Philippine Eagle center is being threatened with Avian Flu, with game farms already adjacent to the eight hectare area.
“Paspas siya makatakod, and very fatal siya to the eagles (They can easily infect the eagles and very fatal),” Baldonado said of the impact if Avian flu will contaminate the facility which would wipe out the breeding population of the critically endangered eagles.
“We plan to relocate within the year or as soon as possible,” Baldonado said.
The relocation site is a 100-hectare City Government property at the foot of Mt. Apo. (PIA/RG Alama)
