DENR notes increasing wild ducks population in Leyte’s natural park

BURAUEN, Leyte, Feb. 28 (PNA) – The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is stepping up their watch on the estimated 1,000 migratory and resident wild ducks within the Mahagnao Volcano and Natural Park.

The DENR has deployed a 14-man green brigade to lead the protection of rich biodiversity in Mahagnao, including the increasing population of wild ducks.

“We want to make these wild ducks feel that Mahagnao is their safe natural habitat, especially that they are included in our conservation list,” said Ingelina Lantajo, head of the DENR Eastern Visayas wildlife management unit.

Frequently sighted in the natural park are three species – Mallard Duck, Philippine Duck, and Wandering-Whistling Duck. Some of these have migrated to the country from Indonesia and Australia, according to Lantajo.

Mariano Donceras, a DENR forest guard and biodiversity monitoring system coordinator for Mahagnao said that wild ducks have been sighted in Mahagnao since 1990s, but it was only last year that their population has significantly increased.

“More ducks have been residents in this freshwater wetland because of rich biodiversity,” Donceras added.

The 14-man brigade ensures that nobody will harm these ducks and protect their natural habitats from destructive activities

Under Republic Act No. 9147, it is illegal to kill or destroy wildlife species except on these conditions: The animals are part of religious rituals, the animal is suffering from an “incurable communicable disease” when the killing is done to “prevent imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being,” and when the animal is killed after its use for “authorized” research or experiment.

These ducks have been wandering near the Malagsum Lake, a volcanic crater lake within the 635 hectares protected area.

Under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) of the DENR, the park was established through Proclamation no. 1157 on February 3, 1998.

Situated 1,200 meters above sea level and surrounded with Leyte’s natural wonders, the park is listed as one of the protected areas (category III) identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Category III consists of small protected areas with high visitor value. (PNA)
BNB/SARWELL Q. MENIANO