The Ihawig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF) in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan has vowed to protect the endangered Philippine red-vented cockatoo birds or “Katala” living within its forest land.
The IPPF made the assurance after its personnel and representatives of the environmental group Katala Foundation, Inc. (KFI) found 55 cockatoos last June 30 at its Montible Sub-Colony.
“No distance or obstacle can hinder the desire and willingness of IPPF and KFI to protect and preserve these species resting in paradise inside the prison without bars,” the IPPF said in a statement.
The facility noted that 55 Katalas, which were found in a Kapok tree, are believed to be among the 85 birds living in the area.
“The place became a habitat and hatching place for the cockatoo due to preserved natural environment and tall trees which could be found in the area,” the IPPF said.
“Manggis, being the tallest tree in Southeast Asia which can only be found in Montible, along with other tall and prime species like Apitong trees serve as hatching place for the cockatoo,” it noted
However, the facility lamented that such trees have been “the high value target for the illegal loggers.”
The IPPF learned that since 2008 the number of Katalas has dwindled to less than 1,000.
There have been 180 Katalas found in the islands of Palawan, it said.