Endangered eagle hatched in Philippines

DAVAO CITY, Philippines, April 19 (UPI) -- A Pinsker's Hawk-Eagle chick hatched at a wildlife center in the Philippines is the first example of the species to be born in captivity, conservationists say.

The Pinsker's Hawk-Eagle, a genus of eagles found mainly in tropical Asia and in the Philippines, is considered endangered due to the loss of its natural habitat of subtropical, lowland forest, the conservationists said.

"Nothing is known about its breeding biology. That is why we did continuous research on the bird, which resulted in the first-ever Pinsker's Hawk-Eagle bred in captivity in the country," Philippine Eagle Foundation Executive Director Dennis Salvador told The Philippine Star.

Pinsker's Hawk-Eagles are slender-bodied, medium-sized birds with rounded wings, long feathered legs, barred wings and crests and are usually found in forest habitats.

"In the past 20 years, the PEF's conservation breeding program has gained significant advancement that will make it possible for us to augment the eagle population," Salvador said.

"The real challenge, however, is the Pinsker's Hawk-Eagle's survival in the wild."