In its Philippine Eagle project, Haribon — the Philippines’ pioneer environmental organization — was both studying the little known ecology of the species (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and looking for the most effective way to conserve one of the world’s most magnificent birds of prey. The Philippine Eagle, declared national bird of the Philippines, is locally called "Haring Ibon".
This highly unusual member of the Accipitridae family is endemic to forests in the Philippines and the largest extant eagle in terms of length and wing surface (albeit at 4-8 kg somewhat lighter than Steller's sea eagle and the Harpy eagle).
This apex hunter in the Philippine forests preys primarily on so-called Philippine flying lemurs - which are in fact not lemurs, but colugos, arboreal gliding mammals native to Southeast Asia forming their own order (Dermoptera) with one family (Cynocephalidae) and just two species.
However, the Philippine Eagle's primary prey species vary from island to island, depending on availability. It requires a vast home range to successfully raise a chick, making it extremely vulnerable to habitat loss coming with the rampant deforestation in much of its range.