Sample Press Release Article No. 1

DAVAO, Phils. (Feb. 2, 2001) --- In a move that has been highly praised by organizations dedicated to preserving the environment, as a long overdue recognition from the Arroyo gov’t of the importance of participating in conservation actions, newly installed DENR secretary Jeomari D. Gerochi signed a MOA with the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI) Pres. Carlos A. Pedrosa, to radio tag the country’s endangered national bird, the Philippine Eagle.

Radio tagging or telemetry is a high technology application, which has been in worldwide use for the last three decades as the imperative tool for the study of endangered species. This method involves the capture of the wild species and strapping compact radio transmitters to their backs either by backpack harnesses or tail tags.

By homing in to the radio signals, or triangulating from two or more receiver positions with a directional receiving antenna, the PEFI field biologists are able to get an estimation of the Philippine Eagle locations and track them. This provides useful data on the species survival, productivity, home range and habitat use. Extensive studies on the backpack harnesses and tail tags have shown no adverse effect on their flying or reproductive abilities.

Dr. Hector C. Miranda Jr.’s (PEFI science director) proposal to DENR emphasized the significance of telemetry in unlocking the secrets to enable the PEFI to make informed decisions for better hands on management of the country’s national birds.

The testing sites for tracking and trapping the eagles will be conducted at known eagle nests at the Mt. Apo National Park covering Davao City, the province of Cotabato and the mountain regions of Bukidnon province.

While Dr. Hector C. Miranda Jr. and PEF Field Biologists will be the lead team to conduct the tracking and trapping expeditions of the Philippine Eagles, they’ll be aided by the DENR – Regional Eagle Watch Teams (REWT). Prior to this, PEFI will train DENR-REWTs on radio tracking, transceivers and other necessary skills for the expeditions.

Intensive fieldwork conducted in the 1970s’ and early 1980s’ have resulted in a better understanding of the endangered Philippine Eagles. But important questions remain unanswered. No reliable estimate of the Eagles population, its home range, habitat, territories, patterns of movements, dispersal, and mortality rates have been established.

The Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. (PEFI), the country’s only private non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our national bird, believes that radio telemetry is a valuable tool in unlocking these vital questions.