CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga –– Seven wildlife species have successfully returned to their natural habitat after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Nueva Ecija released them into the wild area of Pantabangan watershed.
Four species of serpent eagle (Spilornis holospilus), two species of reticulated python (Python reticulatus) and species of pond turtle have been released in their original home after almost five years of captivity in the DENR Regional Wildlife Rescue Center in Palayan City.
“The rescue center has been their temporary shelter. The wildlife had undergone care and rehabilitation after being rescued by our wildlife officers under various circumstances. And now they are released back in their natural home”, DENR Provincial Head Alfredo Collado explained.
He said it is important that wildlife species is released back to the wild after their captivity to regain their natural instinct that they can learn to live and hunt on their own.
“The wildlife species were declared fit for release after the diagnosis made by the provincial veterinarian to ensure that they are healthy and free from any form of disease. The biggest threat to the survival of wildlife is the exploitation of local communities, Collado furthered.
He appealed to the public to report to the nearest DENR office any suspicious wildlife trading activity, including illegal hunting.
Earlier, the DENR has also released 12 bramminy kites (Haliastur indus), five monitor lizards (Varanus salvator) and 30 box turtles (Terrapene carolina) in the 62,300-ha Angat Watershed Forest Reserve in Bulacan.