MANILA, Philippines — Regional environment and wildlife authorities recently apprehended two men selling 11 Luzon monitor lizards, locally known as “bayawak”, in Sasmuan, Pampanga.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)- Pampanga identified the suspects as Ariel Torres and Daniel Sioco who are both residents of Barangay San Nicolas in Lubao town.
LOOK: Regional wildlife authorities have arrested on Monday two men who were caught selling 11 Luzon monitor lizards, locally known as “bayawak”, in Sasmuan town in Pampanga province.
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Laudemir Salac, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer, said the suspects were selling the wild animals, which came from a fishpond in Lubao and in Bataan province, for P400 to P700 apiece.
Preservation, biodiversity
“Collecting, hunting or possessing and trading of wildlife without necessary permit from the DENR is prohibited under the law,” Salac said.
“We need to protect and conserve our wildlife species instead of selling them. They are important to biodiversity and vital to our ecosystem,” he added.
The monitor lizards, which are endemic to the Philippines, were turned over to an accredited wildlife rescue center in Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone for rehabilitation.
It’s a crime
Michael Lopez, wildlife officer of DENR- Central Luzon, reminded the public that the collection, hunting, possession, and trading of wildlife is against the law.
Under Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Protection and Conservation Act, violators may face a maximum imprisonment of one year and a fine of up to one million pesos.
Stay away
Meanwhile, Paquito Moreno, executive director of the DENR, said people should refrain from interacting with wild and exotic animals to avoid zoonotic diseases.
Moreno also urged the public to report illegal trading of animals and other wildlife crimes to authorities.