CENRO Guipos personnel retrieved a Juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle (𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘢) from a local resident of Gatub, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur on June 10, 2024.
The eagle, which Mr. Hermanie Dela Cruz reported via phone call, prompted the Wildlife Team to swiftly conduct a rescue operation at Prk. 2, Gatub, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur. Mr. Dela Cruz had been caring for the eagle for two (2) weeks after it was initially found at Gatub Reforestation and handed over by a Subanen resident. Realizing the need for proper protocol, Mr. Dela Cruz promptly contacted CENRO Guipos to report the eagle.
An initial assessment confirmed the eagle’s good health. It was subsequently transported on the same day to the Lacupayan Wildlife Rescue Center in Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur for proper care before its eventual release back into its natural habitat.
During the operation, CENRO Guipos also informed Mr. Dela Cruz and local residents about RA 9147, the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act,” underscoring the legal implications of harboring wildlife without proper permits and stressing the importance of immediate reporting to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or local authorities.
(Source: DENR Zamboanga Peninsula)