Public Appealed To Rescue, Protect Wildlife From Taal Volcano

KEY POINTS

Taal is home to many animals, including endemic and endangered wildlife species
After the Taal volcano eruption, many animals fled the area to save their lives
A government agency is now asking for public help to rescue and protect the animals
People are urged not to keep the animals as pets or consume them in case of food shortage

Numerous animals were left behind when Taal volcano suddenly erupted on Jan. 12 and many others fled for their lives. Now, the government is asking members of the public to help rescue and protect the animals that may have escaped from Taal.

Wildlife Turnover

Many of the animals that consider the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape their home fled from the area when Taal volcano began spewing ash early this month. In fact, soon after the eruption, a rufous hornbill believed to have fled from the eruption was spotted in nearby Cavite and turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Now, the agency is asking rescuers and members of the public to be on the lookout for such animals and to turn them over to field offices in nearby provinces. These field offices, according to DENR Assistant Environment Secretary Ricardo Calderon, are already helping with the wildlife rescues and are prepared to take in the animals that will be turned over.

Furthermore, the agency also appealed to the public not to keep the wild animals as pets or consume them in case of food shortage as both acts are against the law.

Villagers living near Taal volcano in the Philippines rescue horses and other animals, transporting them via boats as fears of a massive eruption looms. AFPTV / Ron LOPEZ

“We are appealing to the members of the public to rescue and turn over to the DENR any wildlife species within the vicinity of Taal Volcano to ensure their safety,” DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said. “We in the government cannot do this alone. We need the help of the Filipino people to save the wildlife species near the Taal volcano vicinity," he went on.

The agency is also helping with the rescue of domesticated animals and pets that were left on the island. Once rescued, the animals are either turned over to the rightful owners or the local government units in the area.

Protected Landscape

In 1996, the Philippine government declared Taal volcano island national park as a protected landscape so as to protect and conserve the island and the wildlife in it, as well as provide a livelihood for the residents.

According to Calderon, there are over 50 endemic bird species living in the Taal volcano area. For instance, one of the animals that made a home in Taal is the rufous hornbill, a species that is endemic to the Philippines and is already on the International Union for Conservation of Nature as vulnerable.

As of the 8 a.m. bulletin on Jan. 20, the agency has recorded over 700 volcanic earthquakes and Taal volcano remains at Alert Level 4, which means that an eruption is imminent within hours or days.