THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is conducting an investigation on the discovery of 15 dead pangolins in Barangay 2, Bacolod City, on March 17, the DENR-Negros Island Region said in a statement Sunday.
According to the initial report of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)-Bago City, a resident found the pangolin carcasses wrapped in plastic bags around 10 a.m. on March 16.
The resident brought home one of carcasses to be cooked but when he learned that the act is illegal, he returned it to the place where it was found.
Technicians from the Cenro Conservation and Development Section proceeded to the location to verify the incident, with personnel of Bacolod City Police Station 2.
Inspection revealed that the scales of the mammals were removed.
The animals were brought to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Negros Occidental for tissue sampling.
The carcasses and tissue samples were then transported to a mortuary in Bago City for further analysis to determine the species of pangolins and the cause of their death.
Pangolins and anteaters are included under Appendix I of the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.