15 facts about the critically endangered Philippine eagle

MANILA, Philippines - Did you know that there are only about 400 pairs of Philippine Eagle left in the world?

Considered as one of the most astonishing bird species in the world for its beauty and ferocity,  the Philippine eagle is now listed as "critically endangered" in the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

In lieu with their dwindling population, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), a non-profit organization that focuses on Philippine eagle survival formed a conservation breeding program - a system that breeds and re-introduces raptors to their natural habitat in efforts to prevent their extinction.

READ: Cebu Pacific takes Philippine eagle under its wings

To date, the foundation has successfully produced 25 captive-bred eagles, including "Mindanao," which was adopted by Cebu Pacific on October 5. Part of the airline's commitment is to provide food and necessary veterinary care for "Mindanao."

PEF believes that saving the lives of the eagles is important because the health of our environment and quality of human life is linked. Therefore, it is necessary to learn about the Philippine eagle's life and its threats to survival.

Here are facts about the endemic raptor, as shared by PEF.

1. The Philippine eagle is a giant forest raptor that is endemic to the Philippines.
2. It adapts well in dense, lush flora.
3. It is a vertebrate of the highest class, which can grow to up to three feet with a wingspan of seven feet.
4. It has massive arched beak and long crown feathers.
5. It is also the only blue-eyed bird of prey in the world, with the eyes that can see eight times the distance than that of humans.
6. It nests on large, old growth dipterocarp trees in lowland forests.
7. It is solitary and fiercely territorial.
8. It feeds on flying lemurs, squirrels, snakes, bats and monkeys.
9. It lays a single egg every two years.
10. Parent eagles wait for their offspring to make it on their own before producing another.
11. Breeding season is from July to February.
12. It lives up to forty years in captivity but much less in the wild.
13. Its threats to survival include shooting and trapping despite having laws that prohibit them.
14. At least one eagle is killed every year because of shooting.
15. The forest is the only home for Philippine eagle. So deforestation is also a culprit for their death.