Eagle Bighani is a 'he'

MANILA, Philippines - Now it can be said: Eagle Bighani is a “he”.

This youngest member of the eagle population in the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) in Davao City has been determined to be a male.

Bighani was hatched on Dec. 7, 2007 and subsequently tagged Eagle #22.

The bird, which has blossomed into a magnificent bird of prey, has since been adopted by the Allied Botanical Corp. (ABC), the only fully Filipino-owned vegetable breeding company.

The wildlife’s adoption is stipulated in a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by PEF, represented by its executive director, Dennis Salvador, and ABC through its president and general manager, Willy U. Co.

PEF is a private, nonstick, nonprofit organization committed to accelerate the captive breeding program of the Philippine eagle to replenish the wild eagle population now threatened with extinction.

Under the MOA, ABC will underwrite the upkeep of Bighani for six years since its birth (up to July 2, 2014) to the point of its maturity. It has provided a cash grant of P750,000 (P125,000 per year) for the food and veterinary care of the rare bird.

ABC has also committed to support PEF’s wildlife conservative initiatives. It is allowed to use photographs, graphic icons, and footage of its adopted eagle for the firm’s international and external communications program.

ABC told The STAR that it will maintain its adopted eagle’s “feminine” name.

Actually, the eagle is named after Bighani Super Sweet Corn F1, the first Filipino-bred super sweet corn in the country developed by ABC.            — Rudy A. Fernandez