𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨 – An injured male Chinese Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) was rescued by a concerned citizen and turned it over to DENR-12 Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cotabato on February 06, 2025.
The concerned citizen of Poblacion, Kidapawan City, spotted a man carrying the bird within their subdivision and suspected it was being sold. Rather than purchasing the raptor, he persuaded the man to surrender it voluntarily, though the latter refused to disclose its origins. Upon receiving the bird, the concerned citizen initially attempted to release it but noticed that the bird was unable to stand properly, prompting him to bring it to the DENR office for immediate assessment. The Conservation and Development Section, in coordination with USM veterinary student Bernhart Immanuel Piñol, conducted a joint evaluation, revealing that the bird weighed seventy grams and measured 16 inches in length. Further examination found the raptor in a stressed condition with an unresponsive right leg, making it unfit for immediate release.
Although the Chinese Sparrowhawk is classified as Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, it remains vulnerable to habitat threats and illegal capture during migration. Given its condition, the DENR coordinated with the University of Southern Mindanao Wildlife Rescue and Research Center to facilitate the bird’s medical treatment and rehabilitation. Once fully recovered, the raptor will be released back into its natural habitat to continue its migratory journey.