600 bikers to ride for the Philippine Eagle

By Cheneen R. Capon
More than 600 bicycle riders from different parts of Davao Region are expected to participate in the 2nd Ride for the Eagle on March 22 for the benefit of the captive eagles at the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).
“The 2nd Ride for the Eagle is an event organized by the foundation in partnership with The Marco Polo, Davao and Globe Telecom,” PEF communication officer Vidalyn Dumadag said in a recent interview.
Dumadag said a total of 456 bikers joined the first Ride for the Eagle event last year that raised over P50,000.
“On its second year, the ride aims to increase the participation now that more Dabawenyos have taken up biking as a hobby,” Dumadag said.
She said the proceeds of the registration will be donated to the PEF, giving each biker participant an opportunity to directly contribute to the mission.
“We are targeting to raise P100,000 this year,” she said.
The funds from this event will help fuel the foundation’s programs which include research and conservation, conservation breeding, and education.
Registration started last February 16 at the Security Department of The Marco Polo, Davao. Registration fee is P400 inclusive of packed food, souvenir shirt, and raffle entry for fabulous prize starting with one standard mountain bike.
Dumadag said the conservation center in Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City is home to a total of 34 endangered Philippine Eagle. Thor, a 46-year old male Philippine Eagle, is the oldest while two-year old Mabuhay, the hatchling of Pag-asa, is the youngest.
However, PEF is hopeful that there still at least 400 pairs of Philippine Eagles in the wild from Sibulan, Toril District in this city to Arakan, North Cotabato.
“Eagles are highly territorial predators. Each male eagle requires as much as 7,000 hectares for its territory, ”Dumadag said.
She said the territory enables Philippine Eagle parents to raise their children and look for food for the family.
She said the mating pattern of Philippine Eagles allows them to lay eggs once in every two years. However, not many captive eagles are able to do this.
Dumadag said the egg-laying season is from September to February, but no eagle laid an egg during this last season.
She also said there are eagles in custody that cannot be released to the wild because of low survival rate.
“There were eagles that were raised conditionally by their human handlers and those eagle become dependent to them,” she said. “We’re afraid that the eagle we release in the wild will go to human habitation where there is more danger.”
Some of the eagles in the center were adopted by individuals who give support to the daily requirement of the adopted eagle.
For instance, television host Kim Atienza adopted two eagles in the center and gives as much as P150,000 to each annually.
Dumadag said 11 Philippine eagles in the center were already adopted, while 23 are up for adoption.
She said the donation of adopters goes to veterinary care, maintenance, and food of the adopted Philippine Eagle.