DENR National Capital Region, through its South Field Office (SFO), confiscates a long-tailed Philippine Macaque (Macaca fascicularis philippensis) in Barangay Calzada, Taguig City on Wednesday, 28 July 2021.
SFO personnel confiscated the monkey after its owner failed to show documents allowing him to keep the wild animal as a pet. The primate—a male adult—was immediately brought to the Wildlife Rescue Center in Quezon City for documentation and rehabilitation.
According to a report made by a concerned netizen, the animal has had aggressive fits in the past and hurt some residents and passersby who inadvertently wandered near the place where it is kept. SFO personnel found the monkey chained to a tree when they arrived.
“Wild animals are aggressive by nature, which is why we consistently advise people to leave wild animals alone in their habitat because it is there that they belong, Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan explained. “Unless one has secured the necessary permits, having custody of any wildlife is a violation of R.A. 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, Director Caancan warned.
"Under Sections 27 and 28 of R.A. 9147, injuring, killing, collection and trading of wildlife is punishable with fines ranging from PhP1,000 to PhP5,000,000 and/or imprisonment of one month to twelve years, depending on the classification and status of the wildlife.", Director Caancan added.
While the Philippine long-tailed macaque is not yet included in DENR’s list of threatened species (DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-19), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) however categorizes the monkey as “vulnerable”, citing the continued decline of its population in the wild due to hunting and trading, as well as the loss or destruction of its habitat.
- Details
