The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) has announced the heartbreaking passing of Riley, a young Philippine eagle, on April 15, 2025, at the National Bird Breeding Sanctuary in Davao City.
Riley was born on January 16, 2025, and was the first eagle chick under PEF’s care to hatch naturally without any help from humans—a rare and special event.
Though the public never saw Riley in person, many followed his journey online through photos, videos, and updates from the Foundation.
He quickly became a symbol of hope for saving the critically endangered Philippine eagle.
“Though the eaglet’s time with us was short, Riley captured hearts and inspired hope,” PEF shared in a Facebook post.
On April 12, the team noticed Riley’s right wing had started to droop, and he appeared to be in pain.
An X-ray revealed a fracture in his wing joint, likely caused by metabolic bone disease—a condition that weakens bones and affects the immune system.
Despite treatment and care, Riley’s health declined. He had trouble breathing and showed signs of inflammation.
He passed away three days later.
A necropsy confirmed the disease and suggested a possible infection.
Although Riley was raised under the same care as healthy eagles.
Riley’s case prompted the Foundation to strengthen its health and nutrition programs.
The PEF thanked everyone who supported Riley’s journey and the staff who cared for him with love and dedication.
While Riley’s life was short, he served as a reminder of the importance of each eagle in our care and the urgent need to protect the Philippine eagle from extinction.
Riley’s natural, unassisted hatching was a rare and important milestone. It gave hope that Philippine eagles could successfully reproduce on their own in captivity—something critical for conservation efforts.
Metabolic bone disease is a condition that leads to weak, brittle bones due to nutritional imbalances, especially in calcium and vitamin D. In birds, it can cause deformities, fractures, and weakened immune systems, making it harder to survive injuries or infections.
The Philippine Eagle Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Davao City that works to conserve the critically endangered Philippine eagle and its habitat through research, breeding, education, and community-based programs.
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