Wildlife bureau against feeding tainted ‘bangus’ to zoo crocodiles
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An official of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau frowned on the decision of zoo officials to feed seized “bangus” (milkfish) suspected of coming from areas affected by a massive fishkill in Batangas and Pangasinan provinces to crocodiles at the Crocodile Park in Pasay City.
Theresa Mundita Lim, PAWB national director, on Friday said like humans, animals were also at risk if they were fed so-called “botcha” or spoiled fish.
“We are issuing an advisory against this and we are writing a letter to the Crocodile Park to stop feeding the wildlife animals with dead fish from fishkills,” said Lim, who arrived here from Manila in connection with the investigation on coral smuggling.
Lim said that thiaminate developed in the gut of spoiled fish. Thiaminate, Lim said, destroyed vitamin B in the body of humans or animals.
“Once animals ingest fish with thiaminate substance, they will suffer from nervous system related problems,” she warned.
Lim said ingestion of thiaminate could lead to convulsion and possibly, death.
“We don’t like this to happen to our wildlife animals,” she said.
