Public Urged to be Vigilant Vs Wildlife Crime

Environment officials are calling on the public to remain vigilant against wildlife crimes.

In a recent Kapihan sa PIA-Cebu, officials from the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) called on the public to be on guard against those that are continually threatening endangered animals and plants.

Forester Ariel Rica, officer in charge of the Enforcement Division, said they had been conducting information dissemination on the different kinds of threatened and endangered faunas and floras in the Philippines.

In 2016, there were already 51 heads of wildlife seized in Central Visayas as of September last month.

According to the report of the Enforcement Division, out of the 30 heads of birds, there were 12 African lovebirds, 11 budgerigars, two cockatiels, four finches, and one blue nape parrot.

There were also 21 reptiles which are lizards, sailfin lizars, reticulated pythons, and pond turtles.

Rica said they were all violating Section 27 of Republic Act 9147 or the trading of wildlife without necessary permits from DENR during the time of apprehension.

Rica said the biggest haul was in Tagbilaran City last month which has over half a million worth of wildlife animals up for trading.

Rainier Manlegro, Biology and Zoology technician of DENR, said the modus include placing the reptile in a sock which is then enclosed in a sound speaker or in between a large can of biscuits.

These are then sent through private couriers.

Passing by the Xray machines, these packed reptiles look like styrofoams.

DENR is working on eradicating illegal wildlife trade by asking the public not to patronize illegal wildlife consumerism and reporting illegal wildlife traders.

Mere possession of an endangered wildlife species is an automatic felony punishable by a jail term of up to two years and a fine of not more than P20,000.

The Philippines ranks fourth in the world’s richest biodiversity. (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)