By Tara Yap
ILOILO CITY—The administration of Iloilo National High School in this city turned over two endangered birds to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The Brahminy kite eagle and Visayan Tarictic Hornbill are two endangered animals turned over to the Department of Natural Resources by Iloilo National High School. (DENR photo/ MANILA BULLETIN)
A Brahminy kite eagle, locally known as Dapay, and a Visayan Tarictic Hornbill, locally known as Tariktik, are now with the Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Team of DENR’s Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Guimbal town.
The endangered birds were housed at the school’s Rainer’s Park for almost eight years. The animals were under the care of a teacher, Reyme Gallarda, who took over the responsibilities after the original owner died.
It was later learned that the school had no legal documents to possess the two birds, so Gallarada voluntarily handed it over to DENR.
Francisco Milla Jr., DENR’s Western Visayas regional director, continues to urge people to do the right thing by turning over wildlife they come across, especially endangered ones.
Otherwise, they can be charged for violating the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 if caught.