Wildlife ProtectionGideon John R. Casison

Eduard UgerioMichael Ramos

Genesis 1:26-2726 Then God said, “Let us make

mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,    in the image of God he created them;    male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:28-3128 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful

and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Republic Act 9147AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND THEIR HABITATS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

 "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.“

 to conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity.

 to initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity.

Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, and critical habitats. This Act shall also apply to exotic species which are subject to trade, are cultured, maintained and/or bred in captivity or propagated in the country.

R.A 9147 The Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR) shall have jurisdiction over all terrestrial plant and animal species, all turtles and tortoises and wetland species, including but not limited to crocodiles, waterbirds and all amphibians and dugong. The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall have jurisdiction over all declared aquatic critical habitats, all aquatic resources including but not limited to all fishes, aquatic plants, invertebrates and all marine mammals, except dugong. 

Top 10 Endangered Species

10. Philippine CrocodileScientific Name: Crocodylusmindorensis

Common Name: Philippine freshwater crocodileHabitat: Mindoro, only about 100 left

Through the years, many of these Mindoro crocodiles – endemic only to the Philippines – have disappeared falling prey to relentless hunters. Mighty and dangerous may the Philippine Crocodile be, its hide is a prized catch, an expensive material for fashion accessories (e.g., bags, shoes).

Unlike the saltwater crocodile Lolong, said to be the world’s largest crocodile at 21 feet long weighing 1,075 kilos, Philippine Crocodiles also called as Mindoro Crocodile are much smaller growing 3 meters or less than 10 feet (almost half of Lolong).So it’s not the big saltwater crocs that are endangered, it’s their smaller cousins.

9. THE MINDORO BLEEDING-HEARTScientific Name: Gallicolumbaplatenae

Common Name:Kulo-kuloHabitat: Mt. Siburan, Mindoro

Another species that is fighting for its very existence is the Mindoro Bleeding-heart, a type of ground dove with the unmistakable red markings on its chest. The sad reality is most, of its natural habitat has been cleared as majority, if not all, of the primary forests of Mindoro have been cleared.

8. RUFOUS-HEADED HORNBILLScientific Name: Aceroswaldeni

Common Name:KalawHabitat: Panay, some part of Zamboanga del Norte, extinct in Guimaras

This bird with a lot of weight on its horn, is found only in the Philippines. 

That fact alone should make us proud. Had it stayed that way. The thing is the Kalaw or rufous-headed is in an extremely rapid population decline or in plain English their numbers are dying. It’s a shame that we can’t take care of such a wonderful bird treasure.

7. HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLEScientific Name: Eretmochelysimbricata

Common Name:pawikanHabitat: global

Again here is a story of how a wonderful creature can be lost in the face of the Earth all because of human impact.Distinguished for its narrow, pointed beak that earned it its name as “Hawk’s bill”, this medium-sized vegetarian of a turtle has been under heavy attack from humans in general, and Filipinos in particular who hunt them for their meat and for their shells which are prized material for many accessories in the fashion industry.

6. RED-VENTED COCKATOOScientific Name: Cacatuahaematuropygia

Common Name:Katala, KalangayHabitat: Palawan, only about 180 left

You can never mistake this 12 inch-long cockatoo made up of just two colors: white and red. Like a priest out to say Holy Massthis bird is all-white with red feathers around the vent. Perhaps because of its strikingly-clean personality, the red-vented has become a victim of the cage-bird trade with a bird fetching as much as $160 in Manila. And that was in the late 90’s.

5. PHILIPPINE FOREST TURTLEScientific Name: Siebenrockiellaleytensis

Common Name: Palawan turtleHabitat: Palawan

This turtle may have gotten a misnomer as it is totally not endemic to the island of Leyte but only in the Palawan island group.

You can easily distinguish this land turtle by its ginkgo-shaped vertebral scutes (at its back). Also, a line which is colored pale white to yellow traverses across its head behind the ears.

They are prized as pets and ranks as one of the most commonly confiscated species in the Philippines with overseas buyers visiting the islands to collect them. However, sadly, the Philippine forest turtle do not do well in captivity making them avery vulnerable species.

4. PHILIPPINE NAKED-BACKED FRUIT BATScientific Name: Dobsoniachapmani

Common Name:kwaknitHabitat: Cebu, Negros Island (very small numbers)

Size is not everything. Being the largest cave-dwelling bat in the whole archipelago measuring up to 220m in total length is no protection. Instead, the Philippine naked-backed fruit bat has attracted bad men, being hunted for its meat.

However by some twist of fate, this mega bat specie known for its naked appearance due to the wings attachment on the midline of their back, made an amazing recovery. Reported to be extinct in 1970’s, the night-flier known to very equipped at biting through hard-skinned fruits making them extremely unpopular to farmers, were rediscovered, though in small numbers by the 2000’s.

Fortunately, Cebu forests where this bat is endemic to is protected by law. Negros may do well to follow suit.

3. VISAYAN WARTY PIGScientific Name: Suscebifrons

Common Name: Cebu warty pig, Negros warty pigHabitat: Cebu, Panay, Negros Island

It’s no secret Filipino love to eat pork. One of the major reason why this wild pig known for the 3 pairs of wart in its appearance has become so rare.

And to confound things up, the pig has as a subspecies the Cebu warty pig. Seems things are looking bleak for the boar as Cebu is the unofficial lechon capital of the Philippines.

Luckily, breeding programs for the specie are being undertaken in Rotterdam Zoo and San Diego Zoo.

2. TAMARAWScientific Name: Bubalusmindorensis

Common Name:TamarawHabitat: Mindoro

The wild buffalo, a distant cousin of the carabao, has been grazing the land 12,000 years ago, long before there were any natives to disturb their peace – much less malls.

Today, however, the Tamaraw distinguished by its slightly smaller build and V-shaped horns as compared to the more docile carabao, holds its final stand in the rugged mountains of Mindoro. They are at the brink of extinction as only about 350 remain.

1. PHILIPPINE EAGLEScientific Name: Pithecophagajefferyi

Common Name:HaribonHabitat: Philippines

Truly a jewel of the Philippines, the Philippine Eagle also known as monkey-eating eagle is tagged as the national bird of the Philippines.

Though like a king of the forest this eagle is among the most powerful of birds with sights that are the stuff of legends, the Haribon has become one of the rarest. Foremost cause for this population decimation is habitat loss.

If you fancy catching the Philippine Eagle, think again. Killing one means you’d have to spend 12 years of your life in prison. Not to mention paying heavy fines.

END OF REPORT