BALBALAN, Kalinga – A male calf Philippine Deer (Rusa Marianna) is now being taken cared by the staff of Banao Protected Landscape (BPL) at the Protected Area (PA) Office at Balbalasang, Balbalan after it was rescued from traps.
During a foot patrol conducted by the PA and staff of the Community Environment and Natural Resource Office at Mt. Sapokoy it was observed that there were many wildlife traps set up. While advancing, the team saw a male calf deer, caught by a trap made of nylon loop.
The deer was rescued with minor wounds and brought to the PA Office for emergency care. The team dismantled a total of 51 wildlife traps made of nylon loop.
Upon completely dismantling the said traps, the team decided to follow the Umbali Creek where they saw the skeleton of a Macaca fascicularis (monkey) with the suspicion that the cause of its death is old age.
A pit viper snake ready to bite positioned on a tree was also documented and luckily seen by one member of the team. While forwarding in searching for some traps, the team also saw a dead red jungle fowl caught by traps. All the traps were totally dismantled and brought to the PA Office.
The team conducted one-on-one educational sessions with residents within the PA regarding RA 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. It was intensely explained that the collection, gathering, or harvesting of wildlife from their natural habitat and possessing and selling the same without the necessary permit are violations and punishable under this act. Their participation was encouraged for the protection of the remaining wildlife as this will be their legacy for their children and grandchildren.
BPL is identified as a Key Biodiversity Area thus it is crucial to implement strict and intensified measures to protect and preserve the remaining biodiversity. The BPL has an approximate area of 21,000 hectares regularly patrolled by the Protected Area staff and the forest rangers of DENR-CENRO Pinukpuk to monitor threats, habitat loss and other illegal activities inside and outside the PA.