Bukidnon ‘lumad’ hold sacred ritual for dead Philippine eagle

FAREWELL RITE Members of the Daraghuyan indigenous community in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, performa sacred ritual on Sunday in the forest where the critically endangered Philippine eagle “Sawaga-Dalwangan” was rescued. —Junissa Valdueza Docenos/Contributor VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON, Philippines — Members of the Daraghuyan indigenous community in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, held a sacred ritual in honor of “Sawaga-Dalwangan,” the Philippine eagle that died while undergoing rehabilitation after being rescued earlier this month. The ritual was performed in the forests within the Daraghuyan ancestral domain on Sunday near the Sawaga River, where 21-year-old indigenous farmer Marvin Linoy found the injured raptor on July 3. Merly Omarol Suday, a member of the Daraghuyan indigenous community, said the ceremony reflects the tribe’s deep spiritual connection with nature. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Philippine Eagle rescued recently in Bukidnon dies “The ritual is our way of offering prayers, seeking guidance from Magbabaya (Supreme Creator) and our ancestors, and honoring the spirit of a living being that has passed,” Suday told the Inquirer on Tuesday. Important habitat She added that the indigenous peoples, or “lumad,” in the area also prayed for the protection of the remaining Philippine eagles and the forests they inhabit. The Daraghuyan ancestral domain, located at the foot of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, is home to the headwaters of the Sawaga River and serves as an important habitat for wildlife, including the critically endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). READ: Conservationists seek deeper probe of PH eagle shooting Article continues after this advertisement The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) said Sawaga-Dalwangan’s rescue was made possible through the swift response of lumad rescuers, the local community, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and conservation workers. Veterinarians found the eagle severely dehydrated, weak, and suffering from maggot-infested wounds, damaged feathers, and two airgun pellets lodged in its right wing and left thigh. Article continues after this advertisement Dr. Bayani Vandenbroeck, PEF veterinary consultant, said the injuries suggested the eagle had been unable to move normally for several days before it was rescued. According to Dr. Jayson Ibañez, PEF director for operations, there were rope burns on the eagle’s legs, indicating that it may have been tied to the ground. He said the foundation has found no evidence to support reports that monkeys caused the eagle’s injuries. Following the incident, the PEF renewed its call for a breeding territory survey in Bukidnon and urged authorities to strengthen the regulation of pellet guns and investigate the circumstances surrounding the eagle’s injuries. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Bukidnon is home to an estimated 23 pairs of Philippine eagles, one of the country’s largest remaining wild populations of the critically endangered raptor. /cb