A young Philippine Eagle rescued in Magpet, Cotabato is recovering from injury after veterinarians found three airgun pellets lodged inside its body.
According to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), the eagle was found weak on Sunday evening, September 27, 2026, in Barangay Manobo, Magpet, Province of Cotabato and was turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) before being endorsed to the PEF for examination and treatment.
Initial examination identified the bird as an approximately five-year-old, presumed female Philippine Eagle weighing 5.15 kilograms.
Despite its injuries, the eagle remained bright, alert and responsive. An X-ray, however, revealed three airgun pellets embedded in its body, one near the right wing, another near the right leg and a third near the base of the tail.
Two pellets were lodged close enough to the surface to be removed by veterinarians under local anesthesia.
No fresh entry wound was observed during the initial examination, suggesting that the eagle may have been carrying the pellets for some time.
The PEF said the presence of the pellets provides another stark indication of the dangers Philippine Eagles face in the wild.
“For a Philippine Eagle, even one shot can mean broken bones, infection, loss of flight, or death,” the foundation said.
The incident also recalls another case involving a Philippine Eagle in Magpet.
In 2013, a juvenile Philippine Eagle rescued in nearby Barangay Amabel, Magpet, suffered a fatal .22-caliber gunshot wound and eventually died.
More than a decade later, another eagle from the same wider landscape has been found carrying projectiles inside its body.
PEF said the two cases underscore a continuing threat to the survival of the country’s national bird.
“We have seen this happen too many times. Philippine Eagles continue to be shot with air guns and improvised firearms. Our Population Viability Analysis warns that the population could collapse if these human-caused deaths do not stop,” said PEF Executive Director Dennis Salvador.
He said protecting the species requires coordinated action beyond wildlife authorities.
“Protecting our national bird requires a whole-of-nation effort from government, communities, Indigenous Peoples, law enforcement, the private sector, and every Filipino,” Salvador said.
The PEF stressed that Philippine Eagles do not recognize property boundaries as they move across forests, farms, communities and open areas in search of food, mates and suitable habitat.
