Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo has ordered the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) to come up with plans and programs to preserve and protect endemic and endangered bird species found only in the province.
The order was personally issued to ENRD chief Kenny dela Peña and senior provincial tourism officer Myla Mae Abellana when they reported about the recent bird festival in Bacolod City from Nov. 23-27, 2016.
Degamo’s order is to first conduct an inventory of the endemic species to include the hornbill, locally known as Talalak, Talibaon or Kalaw, with reports less than 150 of them can be found in Negros and Panay islands.
According to Jack Señagan of the Provincial Tourism Office, the Writhed-billed hornbill was spotted in the forests of Southern Negros, particularly in Bayawan, Sta. Catalina and Siaton areas.
This is where the word Sitio Talalak in Barangay Avocado in Sta. Catalina got its name. As an avid bird photographer himself, Señagan said he could mobilize his group to document the whereabouts of this hornbill.
The “Talalak” or “Talibaon’s” habitat is in the rainforests with fruit-bearing trees of Negros and Panay only.
They reproduce very slowly and so are unable to survive high hunting pressures coupled with illegal logging activities.
Thus, Degamo also warned local poachers and hunters to come to their senses that these are endangered bird species. They are not just natural planters in our forests but also attraction to tourists and visitors alike.
Dela Peña said the governor was serious when he issued the order in giving the ENRD and the PTO two weeks within which to submit action plans and strategies to locate and preserve the writhed-billed hornbill.
He said the governor was very emphatic about this project in saying the provincial government is willing to allocate funds for this purpose.
He sought the cooperation of the barangays concerned where this kind of hornbill can be found to include the possibility of requesting them to make it a policy or an ordinance that will prohibit catching the same.
In lieu of this development, Degamo reiterated his warning to illegal loggers in the province that the full of the law will be enforced no matter who gets hurt. (PNA/ JFP/Juancho Gallarde)
