HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE
In the midst of the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2024, held at the PICC last week, an initiative on behalf of six endangered species of Philippine wildlife was launched. Led by SM and our DENR (Department of the Environment & Natural Resources), the initiative is a Save From Extinction coalition that offers a vestige of hope to our dugong, pangolin, Philippine eagle, pawikan, tamaraw, and Philippine cockatoo. That these six are even on a critically endangered list is such a shameful indictment of us as caretakers of our little section of the planet.
The coalition is composed of SM, the DENR, and the following: BDO, WWF, the Philippine Eagle Foundation, the Zoological Society of London, the Katala Foundation, D’Aboville Foundation, the Forest Foundation Philippines, and Kultura. Together, they’re out to promote awareness, to raise funds, and take concrete steps in protecting these six endangered species, and reverse the sorry trend that has befallen on these creatures.
In her speech, DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga spoke about how it was all about giving a voice to our wildlife. They obviously can’t speak for themselves, and so she was happy that this coalition had banded together to form that much-needed voice. The laws for protecting wildlife are in place, but enforcing them is the issue, when so many are ready to break those laws for personal gain and profit. If not poached and illegally hunted down, these species also pay the ultimate price when we encroach on, and damage, their natural habitat.
The list of what’s happening to these animals is a sorry one to peruse. Dugongs, a most peaceful sea creature, is hunted for meat and used for medicine. Our native pangolin is turned into food, and used for rituals. The Philippine eagle continues to be hunted for sport, even if protected. Pawikan eggs are poached, their shells harvested - and it’s not like they don’t have problems of their own in nature with predators. The Philippine cockatoo are trapped and traded as pets as there is the kind of bird collector who’ll turn possession of the endangered into bragging rights. The fabled tamaraws are victims of illegal poaching. In short, man is one of the crucial instigators of the precarious situation these animals find themselves in.
So yes, these animals do need some kind of ‘voice’. The NGO organizations that helped form the coalition actively works for their protection, and the preservation of their habitat. As Steven Tan, president of SM Supermalls mentioned in his speech, it was about taking responsibility and shining a light that could lead to these animals being taken off the endangered list over time. It was about this generation accepting the challenge, and how the SM Group was pledging to the cause.
Kultura revealed their Save From Extinction merchandise that would hopefully raise awareness of the plight, and funds for the protection of the six species. Artfully designed T-shirts and tote bags were on display at the Philippine Pavilion during the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference. BDO, through it’s ATM’s and donation boxes located in SM Malls, would be accepting contributions for the cause, helping the different foundations continue their tireless work.
How important is all this? As urban dwellers, I know it may not mean all that much to hear of the plight of our tamaraw, or the pangolin. We’re aware of the pawikans and the dugong when we head to our favorite beaches, and they happen to be where these species thrive. But I do know that I would be so ashamed to say that it was during our watch that the Philippine eagle or cockatoo became officially extinct.
And yes, I’ll concede that it’s not only human action, but also extreme weather events that have been acting as tipping points toward the loss of ecosystems and animal species. But the fact remains that it is in our power to do something now; to recognize that the future of these animal species are in our hands, and that a change has to be made if we are to reverse their dismal journey to extinction. Sure, there’s no guarantee that we’ll even succeed; but we can’t just stand by and let them disappear.
So I salute the coalition for making us aware of the situation. The truth is the six aren’t even the only Filipino species living on a fine tipping point. But hopefully, the six can be the representative champions, and lead the charge of preserving and protecting our Philippine biodiversity.