An Indigenous farmer rescued an endangered Philippine Eagle after it was reportedly attacked by about 30 monkeys in a mountainous area of Bukidnon.
Marven Linoy, 21, of Malaybalay City, was harvesting passion fruit when he heard unusual noises coming from nearby bushes. Upon checking the area, he found the Philippine Eagle lying on the ground and surrounded by aggressive monkeys.
Linoy drove the monkeys away by imitating the bark of a dog, allowing him to safely approach and rescue the bird.
To help calm the eagle, he covered its head with leaves from an anunutong plant before wrapping its body with his jacket while waiting for assistance.
With the help of the Inhandig Tribal Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ITMPC), the Philippine Eagle was safely turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Conservation advocates commended Linoy’s actions, saying he prevented the eagle from suffering further harm by intervening during the attack.
Former Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol also praised the young farmer and called on Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna to consider hiring Linoy as a forest ranger.
In a social media post, Piñol appealed to the DENR chief, saying, “Please Hire This Tribal Farmer, Marven Linoy Of Malaybalay City, As DENR Forest Ranger! Thank You For Your Kind Attention!”
The Philippine Eagle is among the world’s most endangered birds and is considered the country’s national bird. It remains under the protection of environmental authorities while receiving medical care and rehabilitation following the rescue.
The incident has drawn public attention to the role of Indigenous communities in protecting wildlife and preserving forest ecosystems, with Linoy’s actions earning praise from conservation advocates for helping save one of the country’s most threatened species.
