The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on the public to help protect migratory birds against bird hunters as authorities nabbed last Wednesday six men who have been terrorizing the Candaba swamp, a bird sanctuary in Pampanga Province.
The men were caught by police with two common egrets for their “victims” during the hunt, according to the Pampanga Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Office (Penro).
In a news statement, Laudemir S. Salac, head of Penro Pampanga, said after receiving information from a concerned citizen that a group is hunting birds in the Candaba swamp, they immediately reported such to the police. The police arrested the men who they said were hunting birds using air rifles somewhere in Barangay Paligui in Candaba town.
“It is very clear that killing and destroying of wildlife species is illegal and punishable against our wildlife law,” Salac said. “We will not tolerate this incident even during this pandemic to protect our migratory birds and other wildlife species since they are a vital component of our environment.”
Lieutenant Colonel Efren David Jr. of the Candaba Philippine National Police (PNP) said they arrested the following: Jaime Buenaventura; Pablo Cunanan; Jose Carlo Dizon; Michael Gamos Vicente Pangan; and, Rodrigo Canlas. David said all were from Barangay San Joaquin in Santa Ana, Pampanga
David said that four units of air riffles, three pieces of carbon dioxide (CO2) tank, 37 pieces of air gun pellets and two species of dead Great egrets were seized from the suspects.
The suspects were charged with violation of Section 27 of Republic Act (RA) 9147 or the Wildlife Resources and Conservation and Protection Act of 2001. The men were also charged with violating Provincial Ordinance 756 in relation to RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act of 2018, for not wearing face masks.
If found guilty, the suspects may be imprisoned for a maximum of six months and be fined P100,000 for violation of the Wildlife Act alone.
Salac appealed to the public to report to the nearest DENR Office in their area any illegal hunting and wildlife trade or contact the DENR.
The Great egret, scientifically called Ardea alba or also known as common egret is a frequent migratory bird species in the Candaba swamp. They are also found in Africa, America and southern Europe.
The Candaba swamp has been identified as one of the three “most important wetlands” in the Philippines and has consistently been listed in the Asian Bird Map as an important wintering area for migratory birds. It is one of the country’s Ramsar Site or wetland of international importance.
DENR records show that there are 54 species of resident birds and 68 migratory birds recorded in Candaba wetlands since 1940. Last year, more than 2,000 birds were recorded during the Asian Waterbirds Census.