DENR orders crackdown vs illegal traders of wildlife species

CABANATUAN CITY – Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun’s order of a crackdown against illegal traders of wildlife species and restaurant owners serving exotic animals for appetizers is not only good in preserving the environment and in preserving the country’s remaining wildlife species. It is also a boon in preventing another outbreak of the dreaded SARS virus which may also be contracted by eating exotic animals as experienced in China.

This is the opinion of Undersecretary and Presidential Assistant for North Luzon Renato Diaz who says that Gozun is right in ordering a crackdown against wildlife traders.

Diaz explains that Gozun’s order should be fully implemented and must be non-negotiable since the issue at hand is the preservation of the environment. "Anyway, these are already endangered species so they must be preserved."

Earlier, Gozun directed all 16 regional directors of the DENR to clamp down in wildlife trade amid reports many of the wildlife species are being served as pulutan (appetizers) in restaurants all over the country.

She noted that 418 or 72 percent of the 584 Philippine wildlife species of both animals and plants are threatened with extinction.

Last year, 514 protected animals were recovered from petshops and public markets in Metro Manila alone among which were snakes, turtles, and birds, including a number of monitor lizards, commonly known as bayawak.

Bayawak’s meat is believed to be an aphrodisiac when served as pulutan.

Diaz says Gozun’s order will also help curb SARS which spread was traced to some exotic animals eaten by humans. He said that Sibet cats, for example, were traced as the source of SARS in China.

With this practice people may be exposing themselves to various forms of diseases by eating exotic animals. This is the sad experience in China that triggered the SARS outbreak.

He warns that dog-eaters may also be exposing themselves to rabies by eating dogs which would later turn out to be rabid. "Who knows if these dogs have rabies or not?"

The presidential aide asserts that is poverty not an excuse in wreaking havoc on the environment. "Will you say I will cut trees because I have no means of livelihood?"

He said those in possession of wildlife species could be guilty of theft and robbery since protected areas belong to the Filipino people.

As an alternative to those who will be displaced by the crackdown against wildlife trade, Diaz suggests that they look for other products that can be harvested in the forests which will not hurt the environment. "For example, there are herbs than can be used for medicines, ferns and plants which could give them income."