Scenes of pets, work and other animals being rescued by their owners, or those which unfortunately died as a result of having been buried in tons of ash spewed by Taal Volcano since it erupted on January 12 are in the news and social-media platforms. This, as more hazardous eruptions are expected that may put the lives of people and animals in more danger.
Such sights break the hearts of pet lovers, children and even ordinary people who are concerned with the animal welfare.
Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Executive Director Theresa Mundita Lim said affected animals should be “rescued, subjected to proper physical examination and shelters should be set up.”
“There should be shelters to be set up for affected animals, as well. As with people, they can be affected by silicosis brought about by inhaling ‘ash’ from Taal, leading to pulmonary diseases,” Lim told the BusinessMirror in an interview through the Messenger on Tuesday.
“They should be rescued, subjected to proper physical examination by qualified veterinarians and rehabilitated,” she added.
If they are wild animals, the wildlife expert said, “they may be released later after rehabilitation, in adjacent areas that are part of their natural habitat but less affected by volcanic activity.”
Asked on initial assessment on the damage on wildlife, and other plants and animals caused by Taal Volcano’s eruption, the former head of Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said: “I presume the DENR-BMB for wild fauna and the DA-BAI [Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry] for domestic animals should already be initiating this by this time, together with animal welfare and wildlife conservation groups, and other civic organizations concerned.”
She added: “We, at ACB, having our headquarters within Calabarzon, are ready to support activities that will look into the impact of such natural disasters on the biodiversity [including wild species of flora and fauna] in the area, and how these impacts can be mitigated or reduced.”
In a news release on Wednesday, Lim commended the recent pronouncements of the DENR and other concerned groups in saving stranded animals and wildlife in affected areas, noting the necessity for the enforcement of an evacuation plan for animals during emergencies.
The ACB executive director said emergencies like this provide the region valuable insights and learnings that will help each Asean member-state develop better measures that take into account biodiversity and nature-based solutions in disaster management.
She added that these lessons would enhance the existing Asean Disaster Management Reference Handbook that serves as an initial source of information for individuals preparing for disaster risk reduction activities or immediate deployment to Asean member-states.
“We hope we can create the optimum conditions to promote natural regeneration and ecosystem restoration to recover lost biodiversity and biodiversity-based livelihoods that will translate to resiliency and adaptability in the country, within the Asean region, and for the people of Asean,” she said.
The ACB is an intergovernmental organization created by Asean member-states to facilitate cooperation and coordination among member-states, as well as with regional and international organizations on conserving and sustainably using biodiversity aside from promoting fair and equitable sharing of benefits from utilizing this natural resource.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila