THE Regional Wildlife Rescue Center (RWRC) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) released back to the natural habitat in Zamboanga del Norte seven rehabilitated wildlife.

Ronald Gadot, DENR regional officer-in-charge, said Saturday, November 27, 2021 that released back to the wild were one Yellow-headed Water Monitor Lizard, one Serpent Eagle, and five Brahminy Kite.

Gadot said the wildlife were freed Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at the Ecotourism Park in Cogon village, Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte.

Most of the species were previously rescued and retrieved in Zamboanga del Norte and were rehabilitated at the RWRC in Baclay village, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur, according to Gadot.

He said that DENR Department Administrative order (DAO) No. 2019-09 listed the Yellow-headed Water Monitor Lizard as Other Threatened Species while the Serpent Eagle and Brahminy Kite as Other Wildlife Species.

He added that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the three species as Least Concern.

He said that since April 2019, the RWRC has been fully functional with its major operational activities of rescue, rehabilitate and release of wildlife species.

In partnership with the Department of Agriculture and the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Veterinary Office, the RWRC has been providing medical attention, shelter and rehabilitation to the rescued wildlife prior to their release back to their natural habitat.

Gadot said that as of November this year, 115 heads of wildlife have been released by the RWRC since the beginning of its operational status. (SunStar Zamboanga)