The Embassy of the Czech Republic supported a project to save the Philippine eagle
07.05.2024 / 11:20 | Aktualizováno: 07.05.2024 / 11:50
Philippine ornithologists have been cooperating with ZOO Liberec on saving one of the most endangered and biggest flying predators of our planet – the Philippine eagle. They visited the Czech Republic in April 2024 to learn a new method of reproduction of the emblematic bird of the Philippines from the Czech ornithologists, by means of which the odds of its survival even for the future generations rise.
The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila has been engaged in environmental projects and has been supporting research in predators protection in the Philippines for several years. This time, the Embassy sponsored a study trip of ornithologists of Philippine Eagle Center in Davao to Liberec, Czech Republic, enabling them to learn a method for breeding of the Philippine predator whose numbers reach less than 300 in the nature at the moment. Chargé d’affaires a.i., Mr. Dalibor Mička, visited Philippine Eagle Center in July 2023 and held preparatory discussion regarding further cooperation, including the recently implemented project.
ZOO Liberec has been specializing in predators breeding, especially of eagles and vultures, having been successful in breeding as early as in the 70’s of the past century. ZOO Liberec is, too, involved in repatriation of endangered predators to the nature. It has been successfully participating in a repatriation project of bearded vulture in the Alps and in Spain.
Implementation of new processes and breeding methods is an important part, or even a precondition, of a successful breeding. Artificial egg incubation, technique for artificial insemination of predators, and a method of sperm cryopreservation of predators have been used and improved in Liberec for many years.
Training of two experts from Philippine Eagle Center provided them with essential information, and especially real execution of artificial insemination of predators, artificial egg incubation and sperm cryopreservation of predators.
The training was carried out under the supervision of Mr. Jan Hanel of the ZOO Liberec in accordance with the plan of Project Agenda 2030, whereupon the ornithologists returned to the Philippines with much essential information. Their cooperation with the ornithologists from Liberec will continue, and several experts, including breeders from ZOO Liberec, will head to the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao to supervise and assist with proper insemination in October 2024 during the peak of nesting season of the Philippine eagle.
The Embassy of the Czech Republic will maintain the contact with both Czech and Philippine experts, and it is of great hope that the Philippine eagle, also pictured on the new polymer banknote of the highest denomination (1000 pesos), will be seen in the future in the wild nature, never to be listed among extinct species.