A highly endangered species of rat was caught by citizens of Antipolo City on Wednesday, Nov. 1, the city government said.
(Photo from Antipolo LGU)
According to Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares, a cloud rat or Bugkon was recovered from the ceiling of the house of Gena Richards in Sitio Junction, Tagbac, Barangay San Jose and was turned over to the City Veterinary Office (CVO).
Ynares said the cloud rat is the largest species of rat in the country and is endemic to the Philippines.
"Endangered na po ang kanilang lahi kaya kung may mamataan po kayong kaparehong hayop sa inyong tahanan o sa inyong lugar, huwag itong papatayin o sasaktan (This specie of rat is already tagged as endangered, hence, if you see a similar animal in your home, please do not kill or hurt it)," Ynares said.
Residents may call the CVO's hotline 8689-4514 or go to their nearest barangay hall.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified cloud rats as a critically endangered species which are threatened with habitat loss and human encroachment due to the extensive deforestation in the country.
Larger species of cloud rats (Phloeomys and Crateromys spp.) are also hunted for food, usually by hunter-gatherer tribes in the mountains. In some areas, they are the most commonly hunted species and hundreds of animals are estimated to be killed annually.
Hunting or possession of wildlife is illegal in the Philippines, under Republic Act 9147 (the Wildlife Protection and Conservation Law of 2001).