50% of RP animal species are endangered - wildlife group

MANILA, Philippines - Almost half of the country’s animal species are facing extinction, according to the Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB). In her report in GMA’s 24 Oras, Pia Archangel said among these critically endangered species are the Walden's Hornbill, Sulu Hornbill, Cebu Flowerpecker, and the Philippine Eagle. PAWB Director Mundita Lim said some of these species are endemic to the Philippines. “That means dito lang sila matatagpuan. ‘Yun na yung global population nila. So kapag nawala siya dito sa Pilipinas, wala na siya sa buong mundo (That means you can only find them in the Philippines. Once they’re gone here, they’re gone in the world),” she said, adding that the Philippines has a high endemicity rate. Other animals which PAWB said are on the brink of extinction in the Philippines are the Tamaraw, Visayan-spotted deer, the popular marine specie Dugong, the Philippine Pond Turtle, and the Philippine Crocodile. Lim warned that if proper actions are not taken to address this, the said animals will no longer be available for the next generation to see. "If we do not conserve them, or if we do not do some measures to conserve the species, if we use them unsustainably, then in 10 to 20 years time, they will disappear from the face of the earth," Lim said. "There's urgency for us to do something about it. We need to move now because if we don't do something now it might be too late for this generation and the next generation," she added. The television report said that in 2001, the country has ratified the Wildlife Act of the Philippines, which aims to protect animal and plant species from extinction. PAWB however admitted that it will not be easy for the government to implement the law. - GMANews.TV