Pag-asa, the first Philippine Eagle that was bred and hatched in captivity, has died, conservationists said Friday. The raptor would have turned 29 on Jan. 15.
The beloved monkey-eating eagle died of Trichomoniasis, a parasite infection and Aspergillosis, a fungal infection, the Philippine Eagle Foundation said in a statement. It expired at 8:03 p.m. of Jan. 6.
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Born 1992, Pag-asa was the first Philippine Eagle bred and hatched in captivity through cooperative artificial insemination, the foundation said.
Even after he retired from breeding, Pag-asa lived his life as an icon of hope for Filipinos, young and old, and was a constant inspiration to the people working tirelessly to save our National Bird from extinction," it said.
Pag-asa has one offspring, named Mabuhay.
