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Endangered Bird Hunting in the Philippines25/01/2008 16:32:16WWF advocates rule of law in dealing with RP game hunting By Gregg Yan Worldwide, more than 130 bird species, from the flightless Dodo of Mauritius to the gargantuan Elephant Bird of Madagascar, have become extinct or been killed off since the 16th century. Of 10,000 surviving species, 10 percent are threatened with extinction, and the Philippines are no exception: the Luzon Sarus Crane, Ticao Tarictic Hornbill and numerous others have not been seen in generations.  Remarkably rich in birdlife, the Philippines still has more than 600 species of resident and migratory birds, of which about 190 are endemic. Habitat loss, hunting and incursions by introduced species such have drastically reduced populations.
More than 200 Philippine birds are included in the World Conservation Union's red list of critically-endangered species, including the Philippine Cockatoo, the Negros Fruit-Dove and our national bird, the Philippine Eagle, considered by some experts as the largest eagle on earth. Birds play a vital role in the environment, especially of the forests, by eating fruits and dispersing the seeds over wide tracts of land. Similarly, some nectar-feeders such as the Philippine Olive-backed Sunbird are important pollinators. Seabirds improve the ecology of small islands by producing large amounts of guano which enriches island soil – allowing less adaptable plants to root. Bird Hunting Holidays Thus the recent spate of web adverts for bird hunting in the Philippines comes as a great shock to conservation institutes, including the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP), a group which has collated data on resident and migratory birds since 2003. WWF strongly espouses the rule of law in dealing with these hunters, under the context of protecting natural resources. WWF Project Manager Yeb Sano said ‘The spirit upon which our environmental regulations were crafted reflects the critical status of our natural resources, dwindling as they are and on the verge of irreversible collapse, compromising its ability to fend for future and even this generation. Birds and all wildlife have important roles to play in the circle of life and decimating their populations would threaten the viability of all ecosystems.’ ‘The recent exposure of groups hunting threatened species illustrates the huge chasm between policies and their implementation, as well as the great need to educate our people on crucial imperatives to protect our environment. In a democracy built on ideals of freedom symbolized by an unshackled bird, it is ironic that gun-toting groups have been able to hunt down threatened birds - deliberately violating national law.’ Some of the photos show carcasses of the Philippine Mallard (Anas luzonica). With less than 10,000 left alive, the species is listed as vulnerable under the DENR and IUCN. The penalty for killing vulnerable wildlife in the Philippines is imprisonment of two to four years and / or a fine of P30,000 – P300,000 ($750 – $7500). The law further states that unless otherwise allowed in accordance with the Act: it shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully and knowingly exploit wildlife resources and their habitats: collecting, hunting or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives. Mere possession of these species, evidenced by trophy pictures posted on websites, is already punishable by law. WWF duly respects all groups – including recreational shooting teams. However, environmental laws must be respected and wholly applied to protect what remains of our natural wealth.
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i been to the philippines and seen for my self that there seems to be no law,certainly thats isnt followed through on guns,its not just air guns,i was told any one can purchase fire arms,from automatic pistles,to shot guns and more,ive seen that for my self,you have the money they will sell you the guns,no questions asked.
Posted by: david | 24 Apr 2011 14:52:20
Laws are laws and they should be followed... however, there comes a point in time when citizens will be tired of following or will not follow laws because they are weird and/or too oppressive. Saying this, i request all readers to read RA 9147 otherwise known as Wildlife Resources and Conservation Act. This law has a good purpose but is too idealistic. Just reflect at the definition of "wildlife", -means all wild forms and varieties of flora and fauna, in all developmental stages, including those in captivity or are being bred or propagated. THIS DEFINITION IS TOO BROAD!!!!! it includes the rat in your house and that grass that naturally grows in your garden. do you know that it is illegal to kill them??? you might think of me as a fool but if the law does not distinguish you should not also!!! the law of 2001 speaks that after sometime DENR should have a list of economically important species, now 9 years after, i challenged you to do some research and see if you can get a list of what animal and plant can be taken legally.. that is, without a special (usually expensive!) permit!
Filipinos have no choice but to gamble. They don't know what they could legally take, usually for consumption, to get nutrition. They just know that resources should be used (not deplete) to the full extent. Wealthy hunters will probably be less than 5% of the equation. The remaining 95% are subsistence hunters (or gatherers!)
I am not saying that all animals should be hunted. I am definitely against hunting "rare" animals. rare means not common, which should be easy to understand, it considers the specific habitat. The philippines is an archipelago, an animal may number several hundred thousands in one island and only a few dozens in one. saying this, i am in favor of specific prohibition per zone/area. we should not generalize the entire philippines and just include all species. We should push the use resources to the full extent without affecting sustainability.
Also, we should push for better information dissemination.
Filipinos are taught far less than what they should learn. Even the media has overused the term "endangered" without discussing what it really means scientifically. It just added to confusion if not chaos.
Enforcement of environmental laws must be improved. Large tracts of wildlife habitat are destroyed daily. We should clearly define the boundaries of forest land and settlement within the areas classified as forest land should not be allowed. We should not forget that habitat destruction (and not hunting) is the major cause of the loss of biodiversity.
Posted by: nigel | 03 May 2010 09:10:53
Hi I'm a bird hunter at the sametime environmentalist although sounds confusing.
We have laws in the philippines against hunting endangered bird species. Unfortunately, the authority have little effort enforcing these laws even in most rural hunting areas where supposedly local authorites are the frontline in enforcing these laws.
We are only commonly familiar with the law and enforcement in protecting our national bird ( The Philippine Monkey Eating Eagle) in Mindanao.
Until now, it's been a long waiting time for the authority to finally regulate hunting in the Philippines. Anyone, anytime and on all ages, people in the Philippines can purchase airguns in malls and shops without any seminar (inlcuding safety handling and wildlife) and permit.
Posted by: Michael Duldulao | 06 Apr 2010 12:16:46