Endangered species
IT IS, without doubt, lamentable to know that many wildlife species in the Philippines, including the “tamaraw,” face extinction.
If many of the species of flora and fauna are endangered, blame it partly on the disappearance of our mountains and forests.
Aside from the “tamaraw,” found only in the two Mindoro provinces, the other wildlife tacing extinction are the Philippine Eagle, pangolin, Palawan cockatoo and local marine turtles.
That’s why we commend the government for partnering with the private sector to save these endangered species.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with environmental non-government organizations (NGOs) to pursue conservation efforts.
The MOA designated the Zoological Society of London to ramp up efforts to preserve the “tamaraw;” the d’Aboville Foundation, the pangolin; and the Katala Foundation, the cockatoo.
DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said we have over 52,000 flora and fauna species, around half of which are endemic.
Around 2,000 of these species range from vulnerable to endangered.
Thus, we cannot overemphasize the importance of launching the nationwide campaign to preserve and save our remaining wildlife species.
It’s a move in the right direction, which all sectors of Philippine society must support.
