ILOILO CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lauded the provincial government of Antique for pushing the protection of the endangered Rufous-headed Hornbill bird locally known as “Dulungan.”
Every August, the Antique provincial government commemorates the Dulungan Month as part of the effort to protect the remaining population of the avian.
THE endangered Rufous-headed Hornbill bird locally known in Antique province as ‘Dulungan.’ (Jann Vince Barcinal)
“This conservation effort made by the province of Antique is indeed laudable. This precious Dulungan and any other flora and fauna found are a sight to see and preserve. They may not be as many as before but with the help of the LGU, communities, stakeholders, and even tourists, their number may gradually increase in time,” said DENR-6 Director Livino Duran.
The Dulungan is an endemic species of hornbill found in the country, specifically in the islands of Panay and Negros.
In Antique, there were sightings of the Dulungan at the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP) which straddles the towns of Libertad and Pandan.
Due to illegal logging and the presence of poachers, the Dulungan has been in the red list or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).