By Alexander Lopez

RESCUED BIRD OF PREY. A police officer from the Lingig Municipal Police Station in Surigao del Sur receives a Brahminy Kite Eagle, handed over by Sphere John Rivas Viroy, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 17, 2024). The bird of prey was transferred to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Bislig City for care. (Photo courtesy of Lingig MPS)

BUTUAN CITY – A Brahminy Kite Eagle was rescued and handed over to authorities by a concerned resident in Lingig, Surigao del Sur, on Sunday afternoon.

Sphere John Rivas Viroy, a resident of Sitio Cabilan, Barangay Poblacion, discovered the raptor and immediately ensured its safety by surrendering it to the Lingig Municipal Police Station.

In a statement on Monday, the Lingig police station commended Viroy’s actions. “The police station expressed gratitude for Viroy’s responsible actions, which ensured the bird’s safety and well-being,” the statement read.

The bird was subsequently turned over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Bislig City for proper care and evaluation.

CENRO will determine the eagle’s health and provide the necessary support to prepare it for eventual release back into the wild. (PNA)