Facts About Philippine eagle-owl
The Philippine eagle-owl, locally known as "kuwago" or "bukaw" is a vulnerable species endemic to the Philippines. These owls inhabit lowland forests across various islands, favoring forest edges near streams where they can rest during the day and hunt for small vertebrates at dusk.
Despite being the largest owl in the Philippines, the Philippine eagle-owl is among the smaller members of the Bubo genus. There are two subspecies, each with distinct characteristics.
Although little is known about their behavior, these owls possess powerful feet, suggesting they likely prey on small mammals and birds. Regarding breeding, they typically lay a single egg per clutch, which incubates for about 35 days.
Captive breeding efforts have met with some success. The Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation notably hatched the first captive Philippine eagle-owl. They also facilitated a breeding loan between DENR-accredited institutions in the Philippines, leading to the successful breeding of eagle-owls in captivity. A breeding pair named "Hinahon" and "Suplada" successfully raised an owlet named "Bubo." Further efforts in 2006 resulted in the hatching of another owlet, marking significant progress in the conservation of this species.