ILOILO CITY – The Department of Environment (DENR) reiterated the need to preserve the six endemic species of Western Visayas region.
“Everyone is called upon to do their fair share in preserving our ecosystems so that native and endemic animals and plants can thrive,” said DENR-6 Regional Director Livino Duran during the World Wildlife Day celebration.
THE Visayan spotted deer, Visayan warty pig, the Visayan Hornbill, the Negros bleeding heart pigeon, the Panay forest monitor lizard, and the Rafflesia speciosa are the six endemic flora and fauna in Western Visayas region. (DENR-6)
Western Visayas has six species of native flora and fauna that can be considered endangered. These are the Visayan spotted deer, Visayan warty pig, the Visayan Hornbill, the Negros bleeding heart pigeon, the Panay forest monitor lizard, and the Rafflesia speciosa.
But due to illegal hunting and gradual damage to their natural habit, the number of these endemic flora and fauna are dwindling.
The DENR particularly raised concern over the Visayan spotted deer, Visayan warty pig, and the Visayan Hornbill – all listed as critically endangered and found in Panay and Negros Islands.
The DENR-6 is considering the use of social media to boost its campaign to preserve wildlife in line with the United Nations World Wildlife Day theme “Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.”
“We must harness the power of the different technologies that we use every day, especially social media to spread the word,” Duran said.