Pythons for bait and dodging militias: on the trail of the rare ‘monkey-eating’ eagle

Mindanao island is the last stronghold of the endangered Philippine eagle. But now the raptor's habitat is at risk from logging, hunting and armed groups

Christian Daug whistles with all the spirit he can muster. The male and female were perched there yesterday," he says, pointing to a dead tree amid the sea of flora that smothers the tallest mountain on the Philippine archipelago.

He whistles again as we look out over the jungle from a wooden observation post. This area is one of the last remaining strongholds of Pithecophaga jefferyi: one of the world's largest and rarest eagles. Measuring about a metre in height when perched, with a wingspan that can reach more than two metres (6.5ft), it is known locally as the monkey-eating eagle". The enormous raptors prey primarily on macaques, but also feed on pythons, chickens, cats and dogs.