Three Philippine eagles brought to Leyte for reintroduction into the wild

Mahagnao, Leyte — In a major milestone for conservation, three Philippine Eagles—Lakpue, Lyra Sinabadan, and Kalatungan I—have been transported from Davao to Mahagnao, Leyte, as part of the second year of the Philippine Eagle Reintroduction Program.

Launched by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in 2024, the initiative seeks to repopulate Leyte with the critically endangered national bird, whose numbers on the island were nearly wiped out following the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. Leyte is one of only four islands in the country where Philippine Eagles are naturally found.

This year’s new eagle cohort includes Lakpue, a male rescued as an eaglet from poachers, who will be introduced as a potential mate for female eagle Carlito, the Year 1 release who successfully adapted to the Mahagnao habitat. Meanwhile, Lyra Sinabadan, a female eagle rescued in Bukidnon after surviving an airgun wound, has fully recovered and is now ready for release. She will form a cohort bond with Kalatungan I, an immature male also rescued from an airgun incident in 2024. While not yet ready to mate, Kalatungan I is expected to establish social ties with Lyra that may develop into a breeding pair in the future.

The eagles underwent full health checks before being placed in acclimation enclosures, where they will adjust to their surroundings prior to their eventual release into the wild. To avoid the mistakes of last year—when one eagle, Uswag, drowned after straying too far—the PEF is implementing an improved soft-release strategy based on international best practices with related raptor species.

The reintroduction program is part of a long-term effort to rebuild the Philippine Eagle population on Leyte and restore a species that once thrived across the island. Supporters are encouraged to help secure the future of the "King of Birds" through awareness, reforestation efforts, and conservation donations.