Two Long Tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) were retrieved by personnel from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Ramon Magsaysay at Barangays Buenavista and Locuban, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur on September 21, 2022.
This was the result of reports relayed to CENRO RM by the keepers regarding the presence of these wild animals in their custody and their desire to turn it over to the DENR.
RM CENR Officer Geoffrey Zayas immediately dispatched a team to investigate and retrieve the monkeys.
Based on initial investigation conducted by the team, Mr. Bonifacio Bonquiao, of Purok San Francisco, Buenavista, Pagadian City, said that the animal’s original owner, from the same barangay, died a year ago and the poor animal was transferred into their custody. But because the monkey inflicted harm to one of their neighbor’s child, they decided to turn-over the animal to our office for their safety.
The other Long Tailed Macaque was reported by Mrs. Janice Dagundong thru the DENR Zamboanga Peninsula Facebook Page and transferred the concern to our office for immediate action. Upon our arrival to the area, Mrs. Janice Dagundong, from Purok Azucena, Locuban, Pagadian City, reported that the said animal was too aggressive to the point that it bit her son three times and that they spent thousands for the Anti-Rabies. Worried that the said animal will cause harm to her son again, she decided to report the matter to our office for her son’s safety and the turn-over of the animal to our custody.
Initial assessment made by CENRO Ramon Magsaysay personnel revealed that the two Long Tailed Macaque were found to be healthy and in good condition.
The said animals are now under the custody of the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center at Baclay, Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur for proper care and treatment before its release to its natural habitat.
The Long Tailed Macaque falls under category “Other Wildlife Species” pursuant to Section 4 of DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09 known as the Update National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and their categories.
They are protected under Republic Act 9147 or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act” which prohibits anybody from collecting, hunting, injuring and killing/destroying of wildlife species, including handling/possessing of wildlife without permits/licenses.
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