By Ashley Manabat / Correspondent
CLARK FREEPORT—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has taken custody of seven “vulnerable wildlife,” following a successful rescue operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against a suspected Chinese wildlife smuggler in this free port.
A report emanating from the NBI identified the suspected Chinese wildlife smuggler as Pei Min Zhang, who was caught in possession of four pangolins (scaly anteaters) and three Palawan Cobras, which are both under the “Red List” of animals threatened with extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The animals were discovered by authorities inside a Mitsubishi Grandis with license plate ZHG-475 bound for Tarlac.
According to Ricardo Diaz, NBI regional director, they received a tip from an unidentified informant of the planned transport of wildlife and immediately coordinated with the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) security police.
Diaz said the security personnel successfully intercepted the wildlife contraband along M.A. Roxas Avenue near the Yokohama intersection, where they found a box containing a sack of cobras and pangolins.
Zhang failed to show legal documents that will justify the transport and ownership of the wildlife species.
A verification from the DENR regional office, showed that Zhang was not a registered as a holder of Certificate of Wildlife Registration, Wildlife Permit and/or Wildlife Collectors Permit or any other Wildlife Permit.
Wildlife experts from the DENR said that pangolin is classified as vulnerable species under the list of terrestrial threatened species stipulated in DENR Administrative Order 2004-15. It has become one of the most illegally traded animals in Southeast Asia, with live pangolins fetching up to $1,000 in the black market. Its meat is valued at $300 per kilogram, while its scales are traded at a price of $3,000 per kg.
A report from the IUCN stated that “China has a long history of consuming pangolin as meat and in traditional medicine.”
The report added that “due to continual demand and the decreasing Chinese wild population in the past few years, Pangolin smuggling from Southeast Asia has resulted in great declines.
“Pangolins are not endemic to Central Luzon, and neither are these cobras. It is possible that these animals may have been smuggled from Palawan, where both species are found,” said Fred Sadueste, wildlife enforcement chief of the DENR.
The DENR and NBI are now preparing to file criminal charges against Zhang for violation of sections 27 and 28 of Republic Act (RA) 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation Act.
Francisco E. Milla Jr., regional executive director of the DENR said under the law, collection of endangered wildlife and vulnerable species can carry a sentence of imprisonment of six months and one day to one year and a fine of P10,000 to P100,000.
“Pangolins by nature have no teeth, so the law has to have teeth to protect these animals. Rest assured, the DENR will continue to keep constant vigilance and ensure that our Philippine wildlife remain protected and safe,” he said. He urged the public to report to the nearest DENR office or law-enforcement agency of suspected illegal wildlife trade.
The confiscated cobras and pangolins will be transferred to a suitable wildlife-rescue facility where they will be treated and cared for until they are fit to be released back into the wild.
Last year’s massive information campaign on wildlife protection and conservation by the DENR resulted in the surrender of 21 animals consisting of reticulated pythons, long-tailed macaques, pond turtles and owls.
Image credits: Ashley Manabat