Wildlife traders face stiffer penalties - DENR

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has warned poachers and illegal wildlife traders that they will be facing stiffer penalties if caught violationg the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001.

DENR Secretary Elisea Gozun said those caught engaging in the illegal wildlife trade could face imprisonment from 10 days to 12 years and pay fines from P1,000 to P1 million.

Under Administrative Order 2004-15, which was issued last May 22, the DENR has listed 149 species of terrestrial wildlife as threatened.

According to the DENR, threatened wildlife species are further classified into critically threatened, endangered and vulnerable.

Of the figure, 24 species are listed as "critically endangered," which means that they are facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wilds in the immediate future.

Included in the critically endangered category are the Tawaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), Visayan spotted deer (Cervus alfredi), Dugong (Dugong dugon), the Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), Cebu flowerpecker (Dicaeum quadricolor), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate), Philippine pond turtle (Heosemys leytensis), Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) and the Panay monitor lizard (Varanus mabitang).

Among those listed as endangered or species whose survival in the wild is unlikely are the Golden-crowned fruit bat (Acerodon jubatus), Philippine tube-nose fruit bat (Nyctimene rabori), the Calamian deer (Cervus calamianensis), the Visayan tarictic hornbill (Penelopides panini), the Mindoro hornbill (Penelopides mindorensis), the Japanese night-heron (Gorsachius goisagi), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), Olive-ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the Negros forest tree frog (Platymantis negrosensis), Polilio forest tree frog (Platymantis polilioensis), the Negros limestone frog (Platymantis spelaeus), and the Mt. Data cloud frog (Platymantis subterrestris).

Meanwhile, those tagged as vulnerable species, or species which are under threat from adverse factors throughout their range, include the Palawan flying fox (Acerodun leucotis), the Wooly flying fox (Pteropus dasymallus), Philippine gray flying fox (Pteropus speciosus), Southern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys cumingi), the Dinagat hairy-tailed rat (Batomys russatus), Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus), Palawan pangolin (Manis culionensis), Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), Philippine warty pig (Sus philippensis), the Mouse deer (Tragulus napu), the Spotted imperial pigeon (Ducula carola), Philippine dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx malanurus), the Philippine duck (Anas luzonica), four subspecies of bayawak, the Mindoro tree frog (Philautus schmackeri), and Taylor’s igorot frog (Rana igorota).

Other threatened species that are under threat from over collection are the Flying lemur (Cynocephalus volans), Philippine macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Giant flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus), the Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta), the Rough-necked monitor (Varanus salvator rudicollis), Philippine sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus postulatus), Reticulated python (Python reticulates), Batanes pit viper (Trimeresurus flavomaculatus mogregori), the Isabela oriole (Oriolus Isabellae), and the Philippine flat-hearted frog (Barbourula busuangensis).