DENR seizes 84 wildlife species in Manila

Wildlife protection officers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), along with elements from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police, confiscated some 84 assorted wildlife species yesterday from the Arranque market in Manila.

Among the seized wildlife species were 10 Palawan talking mynah birds considered as "highly endangered" under the Convention of the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

Other animals, listed as "highly regulated," were four blue-napped parrots, two black-capped lorries, two chattering lorries, one sulfur cockatoo, one blue-backed parrot, two harrier birds, 28 sail fin lizards, 30 arboreal snakes, three monitor lizards, and one reticulated python.

RA 9147 allows trading of highly regulated species provided these are not collected from the wild and are "progenies" or offspring produced from breeding farms.

The birds and reptiles were seized although they were covered with Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR) issued by the DENR. Trading of wildlife species is a violation of the CWR issued to their owners since it only allows them to take custody of the species.

The DENR only allows trading of regulated wildlife species if these were sourced from DENR-registered breeding facilities to prevent poaching of wildlife species in the wild.

A certain Roberto Sasuman was caught red-handed while selling Palawan mynahs to a DENR agent, who posed as a buyer.

He is now detained at the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame after Garcia filed a formal complaint against Sasuman at the office of Manila City Prosecutor Virginia Fabia.

Arthur Garcia, DENR-NCR technical director for protected areas and wildlife, said the operation was based on a tip from Ben Tulfo of the public service TV program Bitag.

"We are asking the public not to buy wildlife species from vendors and to buy only from DENR-accredited breeding facilities," Garcia explained.

He added that DENR’s Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) provides a listing of these accredited breeding farms to the public through the Wildlife Division Office.

Violation of the law carries a penalty of a maximum of 12 years imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of P1 million, depending on the gravity of the offense. – Katherine Adraneda