Wildlife are not pets, DENR says

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) called on the public to turn over rescued animals to authorities instead of keeping them as house pet.

The DENR is mandated by law to protect, conserve and manage all terrestrial plants and animal species, all turtles and tortoises and wetland species, including crocodiles, waterbirds and all amphibians and seacow or dugong.

The DENR 6 regional office said it is grateful to individuals who hand over wild animal species to its in the region.

DENR Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran also emphasized the importance of these species in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem to both floras (plants) and faunas (animals).

On February 07, 2023 a rescued Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) locally known as Dapay was turned over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Barotac Nuevo by the Municipal (ENR) Office of Dingle from Barangay Bonloy Dingle, Iloilo.

Ten days after, on February 17, a Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) was also turned over by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Guimbal, Iloilo to CENRO Guimbal, after it was found at a dike in Brgy. Poblacion and was caught by one of the residents.

The python is in the temporary custody of the Wildlife Rescue Center at Kirayan Tacas, Miagao, Iloilo.

Meanwhile, two juvenile Visayan leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis rabori) was turned over by Mabini Farm School teacher, Ms. Masa Lavada to CENRO Cadiz City in Negros Occidental on February 14, 2023.

“The turned over species are a living proof that there is a good number of concerned citizen who are aware of the importance of these species to our ecosystems. They won’t harm when you don’t hurt them, they play an important role to help our ecosystems in balance,” said RED Duran. (DENR-6)