A RESCUED Philippine Serpent Eagle is under the care while a North Philippine Temple Pit Viper was released back to the wild in Zamboanga del Norte, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced Friday, September 1, 2023.
Rosevirico Tan, DENR regional information officer, said the rescued eagle was placed under the care of DENR’s Regional Wildlife Rescue Center in Baclay village in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur.
Tan said the eagle was retrieved and rescued by personnel of the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) after it was trapped at the Bagsakan center in Sta. Lucia village, Pagadian City.
“A citizen brought the concern of a trapped wildlife to DENR through a phone call. The wildlife was determined to be healthy and in good condition,” Tan said.
Tan said the eagle, with a wingspan of more than two feet, was taken to the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center and “shall stay there until it is ready to be released back to its natural habitat.”
The North Philippine Temple Pit Viper was handed over last week to the personnel of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Manukan by Rommel Villarin.
Tan said Villarin informed them that the highly venomous snake was discovered by kids picking lemon fruits in a farm in Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte.
The viper was released in the forested area in Manukan after it was examined physically and was determined to be in good health condition.
The snake species serve as an important ally of farmers as it helps control the population of small creatures such as mice, rats, birds, and frogs.
The viper falls under category of other threatened species in the update national list of threatened Philippine Fauna.
The DENR emphasized that collecting, hunting, injuring and killing, including handling and possessing of wildlife species without permits or license is prohibited under Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. (SunStar Zamboanga)