MATALAM, COTABATO — A rare and majestic sighting of an adult Philippine Eagle (𝘗𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘢 𝘫𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘪) has reignited conservation hopes in Cotabato as the country’s national bird was recently observed soaring over the forested edges of Barangays Sallab, Imamaling, and Don Panaca in Magpet, within the Mount Mahuson range, during a monitoring and site assessment held from October 15 to 17, 2025.
According to conservationists who participated in the survey, the eagle was seen flying confidently along the forest boundaries, suggesting possible territory establishment — a crucial sign that it may be preparing for breeding. This same individual eagle was first documented in the area in October 2024, amid growing concerns about poaching and habitat loss in the upland forests of North Cotabato.
Aside from the Philippine Eagle, the assessment also recorded other significant raptor species such as the Philippine Serpent Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Philippine Honey Buzzard, and the critically endangered Philippine Hawk-Eagle, indicating a thriving but fragile ecosystem that continues to support a diversity of bird life.
Experts say the Mount Mahuson range serves as a vital refuge for these threatened species. Its mixed dipterocarp forests provide ideal nesting sites, abundant prey, and cover from human disturbances — conditions essential for the survival of the Philippine Eagle, which requires vast territories to hunt and breed successfully.
“The return of the Philippine Eagle to this part of Cotabato is an encouraging sign that our forests still hold life,” a conservation biologist noted. “But it also reminds us that without strong protection and local cooperation, we risk losing these species forever.”
Environmental advocates are now calling for stronger forest protection measures, community awareness campaigns, and collaborative conservation programs involving local residents, barangay officials, the municipal government of Magpet, and environmental organizations. Such partnerships are seen as key to deterring illegal hunting, logging, and encroachment — persistent threats to raptor populations across Mindanao.
As the Philippine Eagle — one of the world’s largest and rarest eagles — continues to glide over Mount Mahuson’s misty ridges, it serves as a living emblem of the Philippines’ rich biodiversity and the urgent need to protect the country’s last remaining forests.
The Philippine Eagle is listed as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated population of only 400 pairs left in the wild.