One Palawan Porcupine (𝘏𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘹 𝘱𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢) and Pangolin (𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) were retrieved by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) on February 21, 2022.
The Palawan porcupine was handed over to the Coron office of the PCSDS-DMD Calamian by members of the 105 Special Action Company (SAC), 10 Special Action Batallion (SAB), PNP-SAF of Coron, Palawan. The said wildlife species was confiscated from a boy who was carrying it inside a sack.
Upon turn over, the DMD Calamian District Manager immediately contacted Ms. Indira Lacerna-Widdman and Mr. Peter Widdmann of the Katala Foundation Inc. (KFI) to inquire about porcupine care. Mr. Widmann advised that the wildlife species be quarantined for at least a week or two because there is no way of knowing if it had previously been exposed to domestic animals or humans. He went on to say that releasing it back into the wild would endanger other wildlife because it could carry diseases. The KFI also instructed the staff on what to feed the wildlife species and provided a to-do list on how to care for it.
With the assistance of the PCSDS Wildlife Enforcement Unit, the PCSDS WTMU-Calamian Officer was then tasked with hand-carrying and delivering the wildlife species to the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC) for further assessment and proper care.
Concurrently, a Pangolin was turned over to the PCSDS main office by a certain Mr. Joy Sarmiento of the Puerto Princesa City Anti-Crime Task Force. Mr. Sarmiento narrated that they were guarding Balayong Park when a man handed them the Pangolin in a cardboard box at 9:32 AM on February 20, 2022.
The concerned individual stated that he noticed the Pangolin on Rampano Road, Barangay Sicsican, Puerto Princesa City while jogging. He quickly grabbed it and searched for a cardboard box to put it in. People around him wanted to ask for the Pangolin, but he refused, so he took it and handed it over to the Anti-Crime staff.
The Palawan Porcupine is listed as an “Endangered Species,” and the Pangolin is listed as a “Critically Endangered Species” under PCSD Resolution No. 15-521.
The PCSDS is urging persons who happen to find or rescue wildlife to turn them over to our office, which can be contacted thru hotline numbers 0935-116-2336 (Globe/TM) and 0948-937-2200 (Smart/TNT). You may also send a message to our Facebook page for your other concerns.