(Photo courtesy of DENR-8)
TACLOBAN CITY – Eight rescued native wild animals have been returned to their natural habitat in the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park (MVNP) in Burauen, Leyte, after months of rehabilitation, highlighting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) continuing efforts to protect the country’s native wildlife and conserve biodiversity.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Eastern Visayas (DENR-8) said the release was carried out through the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center (RWRC) of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)-Leyte in coordination with the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park Protected Area Management Office.
Released into the protected park on July 29 were four Philippine wild ducks, one Philippine hawk-eagle, one Philippine parrot, and two black-chinned fruit doves. Before being released, all eight animals underwent veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, and behavioral assessments to ensure they were healthy and capable of surviving in the wild, the agency said in a statement issued Sunday, Aug. 2.
The four Philippine wild ducks hatched from eggs recovered by personnel of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City in December 2025. The eggs were incubated and the ducklings raised at the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center until they were ready for release.
Meanwhile, the Philippine hawk-eagle was rescued after it was found in a rice field in San Miguel, Leyte, in July this year, while the Philippine parrot was recovered from a residential area in Barangay Suhi, Tacloban City, in June. The two black-chinned fruit doves were endorsed for rehabilitation by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Baybay City.
DENR selected Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park as the release site because of its well-preserved forest ecosystem, which provides suitable food sources, shelter, and breeding grounds for native wildlife.
Located in Burauen, Leyte, the park is one of Eastern Visayas’ protected areas and serves as an important sanctuary for endemic flora and fauna, making it an ideal site for the reintroduction of rehabilitated wildlife.
The agency said returning rescued animals to their natural habitat helps restore ecological balance, strengthen native wildlife populations, and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
The Regional Wildlife Rescue Center serves as a temporary shelter for rescued, confiscated, and voluntarily surrendered wildlife, providing medical care and rehabilitation before qualified native species are released back into the wild.
DENR also reminded the public that wildlife is protected under Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which prohibits the hunting, capture, possession, transport, trade, or keeping of wildlife without the necessary permits.
The agency urged the public to leave wild animals in their natural habitat and to immediately report injured or displaced wildlife to the nearest DENR office to ensure their proper rescue and rehabilitation.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
