Exotic reptiles, birds seized in Mindoro

EXOTIC PET Among the species recovered by government environment personnel in a buy bust in Gloria, Oriental Mindoro, are four green iguanas, which may have been imported from the United States or Mexico. Iguanas are popular in the underground market as exotic pets. —PHOTO COURTESY OF DENR-BMB

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) seized a variety of exotic wildlife, some of them possibly smuggled out of Palawan province while others imported from as far as the United States or Mexico and intended for the underground market.

Fifty-six animals, among them four green iguanas (Iguana iguana), two red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonarius), and a variety of parakeets and conures, were recovered on Tuesday from a clandestine aviary in Gloria town, Oriental Mindoro, which the DENR Wildlife Enforcement Team identified as a transshipment point of wildlife smuggled on small boats from one island to another in the Philippines.

Most of the seized wildlife, found in cages, were classified as “endangered” or “threatened” species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Nonthreatened species, such as African lovebirds, diamond doves and cockatiels, were also recovered.

No permit

The animals would have cost about P300,000 when sold to collectors, said Rogelio Demelletes Jr. of the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), in a telephone interview.

Authorities, on Wednesday, filed charges against the aviary owner Fernando Zamoranos Jr., his son Zam Angelo, and aviary caretaker Jessie Dacutanan for illegal wildlife possession and trade according to Section 27 of Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Protection Act.

The DENR in Oriental Mindoro said the suspects did not have any permit to trade.

Only Zam Angelo and Dacutanan were arrested when the BMB and the National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crime Division swooped down on the facility in Barangay Banus on Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities were still tracking down Fernando, who was reportedly in another village during the operation.

Cutting the cycle

Demelletes said the facility was placed under surveillance starting November after they tracked it down through a Facebook post showing photos of exotic wildlife for sale.

During the buy bust, authorities disguised as linemen inspecting the power lines damaged by Typhoon “Tisoy” (international name: Kammuri) in order to enter the facility.

They then offered to buy a ringed-neck parakeet from the suspects for P2,000.

“They (suspects) were even saying they had more in stock, but some of the animals were recently moved to a different location because of the typhoon,” Demelletes said.

The suspects are facing imprisonment of two to four years or a fine of P120,000 to P200,000. Illegal wildlife trade, however, is a bailable offense in the Philippines.

Nevertheless, Demelletes said the arrest would “cut the operations of these syndicates which we think would be forced to lie low for the next three to five months.”

The seized wildlife would be taken to the BMB’s rescue center in Quezon City, as conservationists needed to first identify their natural habitats for their eventual release.