• In the Philippines, the value of that illegal trade is estimated at P50 billion per year • DENR reminded those who purchase any wildlife species to observe the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 or the Republic Act (RA) 9147. • The Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) recently seized 25 tarantulas and 112 spiderlings in violation of Section 27 of the RA 9147. • From 2014 to 2017, DENR records show that the following wildlife species were confiscated: 354 marine turtles; 4,300 freshwater turtles, 4,000 of which were Philippine forest turtles; 58 pangolins; 70 hawksbill turtles; 58 Goffin's cockatoos; nearly 1,000 endemic pitcher plants and lady slipper orchids; 106 sulfur-crested cockatoos; and 462 Indonesian endemic parrots. The illegal wildlife trade continues to put endangered species at the risk of extinction. In the Philippines, the value of that illegal trade is estimated at P50 billion per year, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This includes the market value of wildlife, resources, ecological role and value, damage to habitats during poaching, and loss in potential ecotourism revenues. DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu last week reminded those who purchase any wildlife species to observe the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 or the Republic Act (RA) 9147. He issued the statement after the DENR-National Capital Region's (NCR) Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit-Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) seized 25 tarantulas and 112 spiderlings in violation of Section 27 of the RA 9147. "While RA 9147 comprehensively contains prohibitions and penalties on illegal wildlife possession and trade, the Act also indicates the legal measures of acquiring wildlife. Let us be reminded that the illegal possession of wildlife such as the tarantulas have serious penalties," Cimatu said. Wildlife species are often traded as skins, leather goods, souvenirs, food, traditional medicine, pets, and many other forms. Illegal wildlife trade is an industry that involves the unlawful harvesting and trafficking of live animals and plants and their parts and products. Pangolin scale (Pxiabay free photo) Most traded wildlife species According to the DENR, the most traded wildlife species are the Philippine forest turtle, hawksbill turtle, Southeast Asian box turtle, Asian leaf turtle, Palawan pangolin, blue-naped parrot, Palawan hill mynah, and tokay gecko, among others. The department's data on wildlife species confiscated from 1996 to 2013 include five tons of elephant ivory tusks (1996–2009); 1,522 mynas (2000–2006); 652 Blue-naped parrots (2000–2006); 95 kilograms (kg) of pangolin scales and 36 kg of pangolin meat equivalent to approximately 200 individual pangolins (2012); and 2,870 pangolins (2013). The Philippine pangolin (Photo courtesy of the DENR Calabarzon) From 2014 to 2017, 354 marine turtles (2014); 4,300 freshwater turtles, 4,000 of which were Philippine forest turtles (2015); 58 pangolins (2017); 70 hawksbill turtles (2017); 58 Goffin's cockatoos (2017); nearly 1,000 endemic pitcher plants and lady slipper orchids (2017); 106 sulfur-crested cockatoos (2018); and 462 Indonesian endemic parrots over at least four seizures (2013–2017) were seized. Chinese Box Turtle (Pixabay free photo) Wildlife crime To combat the threats of illegal wildlife trade in the country, the DENR said that the national government created inter-agency groups to enforce the law. The 10-year national Wildlife Law Enforcement Action Plan (WildLEAP) 2018-2028, aligned with the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, aims to address wildlife crime. Blue-naped Parrot (Pixabay free photo) With the help of law enforcement agencies, national and local government bodies, and civil society organizations, WildLEAP will focus on enhancing stronger policies, education, and public awareness, among others. Ask for legal documents DENR-NCR's Enforcement Division-Surveillance and Intelligence Section Chief Maricar Puno-Sanchez said that before purchasing specific wildlife species, various permissions and paperwork must be reviewed to ensure that they come from legitimate sources. "When purchasing, ask the trader if he or she has a Wildlife Farm Permit (WFP) that authorizes operation and maintenance of a wildlife breeding farm for conservation, trade and or scientific purposes; or a Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR), to ensure that the wildlife is from a legal source," Sanchez said. Without a document proving a lawful source of the wildlife, the buyer would be unable to register it with the DENR office and will not receive a Certificate of Wildlife Registration that shows that possession is legitimate. Under RA 9147, violators who will be found guilty of killing critically endangered wildlife will face a sentence of six years and one day to 12 years in prison, or a fine ranging from P100,000 to P1 million. Penalty for the transport of wildlife is from six months to one-year imprisonment or a fine of P50,000 to P100,000.