Philippine eagle Riley dies

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Riley was only three months old

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine eagle Riley, only three months old, has died, the Philippine Eagle Foundation announced Wednesday, April 16.

The cause of death is yet to be determined after the necropsy result comes out. A staff member from PEF said Riley passed away Tuesday, April 15.

“Though the eaglet’s time with us was short, Riley captured hearts and inspired hope — becoming a powerful symbol for his species’ conservation from hatch day to every milestone along the way,” PEF said in its announcement.

Riley was born January 16, the offspring of Dakila and Sinag. PEF considered Riley’s birth “a groundbreaking achievement” as it was “the first-ever documented unassisted natural hatching.”

The last update from PEF came April 1, of Riley slowly spreading its wings. Philippine eagles are known for their wingspan which is the largest among raptors.

The eaglet is part of the group’s breeding program where conservationists use artificial insemination and natural pairing methods to increase the number of the critically endangered species.

Aside from breeding, PEF also works to reintroduce Philippine eagles in the wild. – Rappler.com