Just two months ago, it was big news when PAMANA, a Philippine eagle that was rescued the year before was released back into wild.  Pamana was an eaglet in 2012 when it was rescued in Gabunan, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte with two gunshot wounds. The bird was rehabilitated and later released on June 12, 2015 in a sanctuary called Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Barangay La Union, San Isidro, Davao Oriental.  June 12 is a significant day because it is Philippine Independence Day.

Pamana is the name given to the eagle, which means Heritage.  The Philippine eagle was declared the National Bird of the country in 1995 during the term of Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos.  This declaration recognizes the significance of the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle, as part of the national heritage of the country.  It is now a critically endangered species.

Just this week, Pamana was in the news again, but in a very sad way.  Pamana was found dead and had been shot within the sanctuary where it was released. According to what was seen in the remains of the bird, it was shot as there were metal fragments. 

Due to the killing of Pamana, the status of Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site might be in question.  Word is going around that the environmental community is concerned about how a killing of that sort can happen inside a sanctuary.  The local government is asking for understanding since there has been a long history of presence of rich biodiversity in the forest.

Pamana, the eagle was released by no less than Kim Atienza, the Steve  Erwin of the Philippines.  It had a transmitter attached which allowed them to monitor the bird?s movements.  So, when the eagle?s transmitter went into ?mortality mode? (or that it didn?t move for six hours), the Philippine Eagle Foundation sent a team out to locate the bird. Upon being told of the killing of the bird, Kim Atienza was very emotional.  He is now urging the people to raise funds to capture the killer of Pamana and continue to work for the protection of the Philippine eagle.