The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) has located Carlito, a critically endangered Philippine eagle, three months after its release into the wild. Rescued from Mindanao and released in Leyte, the bird was found thriving in the riparian forests of McArthur, Leyte.
A team led by Senior Biologist Rowell “Ron” Taraya, with Field Biologist Japheth Richa and Field Technicians Rene Bacquiano and Christian Tan, tracked Carlito using a GPS device powered by solar energy. Despite the tracking data indicating Carlito’s presence, locating her proved challenging due to her shy and elusive behavior.
After careful observation on September 29, the team confirmed Carlito was healthy, displaying behaviors like preening, sunbathing, and defecating—evidence that she had been feeding successfully.
Carlito is one of two eagles rescued from Mindanao and released in Leyte. Sadly, Uswag, the other eagle, drowned in July 2024 after encountering difficulties near the Camotes Islands in Cebu.
The discovery of Carlito marks an important success for the conservation of this critically endangered species, which is endemic to the Philippines.