Philippine Eagle chick dies in conservation effort setback

A Philippine Eagle chick, hatched through artificial insemination, has died at 17 days old, marking a setback for conservation efforts. The chick, known as "Chick Number 30," was the first successful hatchling at a new facility. The Philippine Eagle Foundation reported that the chick likely died from "yolk sac retention," a condition linked to bacterial infection. This incident highlights the challenges of breeding critically endangered species, as only 392 pairs of Philippine Eagles remain in the wild. The foundation aims to release eagles back into the wild, but has not succeeded in 37 years. Habitat loss and hunting continue to threaten the species, which requires large forest areas to survive.