More than 400 wild animals worth over P50 million composed mostly of birds and reptiles from Indonesia were seized by authorities in Mati City, Davao Oriental.
The personnel from the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources raided a house in Barangay Dahican and found several animals such as Black Palm Cockatoo, Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, Eclectus parrot and Victorias Crow Pigeon, which is part of an endangered species list.
Also seized were a wallaby and black monitor lizard.
According to a report of www.traffic.org, among the seized animals is the Western Long-beaked Echidna, which is described as one of earth’s most mysterious mammals.
“This egg-laying mammal is threatened by hunting and habitat loss. This echidna has only been found in two previous seizures in the Philippines, both in 2014. The first, a seizure of three animals on 15th February 2014 at Lipata Port in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte Province, Mindanao Island, and the second a seizure of one animal less than a week later in mid-sea of the Municipality of Glan, Sarangani Province, Mindanao Island,” said the report.
The authorities said the shipment has no importation permit and certiticate of wildlife registration.
The suspects, who are cousins, were arrested and had denied that they are not involved in illegal wildlife trade.
The confiscated animals will have to be quarantined to make sure that they do not carry diseases.
