The Philippines and Singapore have come to an agreement that could save the former’s national identity

The Philippine Eagle is the Philippines’ most cherished species, known to all as the country’s national animal. A movie plot had actually been inspired by this creature. Unfortunately, not all beauty comes in abundance. Due to hunting and forest habitat loss, the eagle is critically endangered. It has been reported that only approximately 400 still roam the country, an estimate that strikes fear in the population. What does it say about a nation when it cannot protect its most prized cultural and historical possession?

For the past 10 years, the Philippines has been actively pursuing the amendment in the hopes of loaning their eagles to other countries for safe-keeping. The agreement has just been approved, and luckily, Singapore has decided to step up and take the reins. And just in time for the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Philippines and Singapore Friendship Day! What a way to commemorate true companionship.

An agreement was formally signed between the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) to facilitate the loan of two Philippine eagles, Geothermica and Sambisig. The contract lasts up to 10 years, depending on the progress of maintenance going on in the Philippines. Geothermica is a 15-year old male eagle and Sambisig is a 17-year old female eagle. The couple is being taken care of in Jurong Bird Park, Asia’s largest bird park, while the Philippines attends to the protection of their existing eagles.

Preservation is a Worldwide Mission:

This is the first time that the Philippines has trusted another nation into keeping their soaring jewels safe and secured. Singapore has declared its gratitude towards the country, ensuring promises of dedicated conservation. The Philippines’ Peace and Equity Foundation hopes that the two eagles breed to continue the bloodline and hinder the species’ extinction. It takes around two years for the birth of an egg, but we’ve got time, right?

The eagles and their eventual offspring remain under the ownership of the Philippines. This makes it so that the Philippine eagles under Singapore’s care count as insurance. If worse comes to worst, whatever happens to the Philippine eagles back home, there are two protected in another land, making it impossible for the species to be fully extinct. Though the agreement supposedly lasts up to 10 years, it is possible for the contract to be renewed for another decade. Sounds like a full-proof plan.