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Philippines |
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Tarlac hunters risk
lives for snakes -2 |
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Source: Inquirer |
Author: Russell Arador |
Date: 1999-11-30 |
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Pinatubo eruption
Eleno Marbil, chief of the provincial environment and natural
resources office, said the snake trade flourished after the 1991
eruptions of Mt. Pinatubo.
Subsequent lahar and river flows carried these vipers from the
mountains to the plains, where these are caught and sold for
their exotic taste and supposed healing qualities, he said.
He said cobra hunting should not be tolerated despite what
appeared to be an oversupply of these slithering creatures.
''Such an activity might lead to the destruction of the food chain
in our ecology and the extinction of this species.''
Environment officials said they could not crack down on snake
poachers at this time because of ''lack of manpower and the
absence of directives or implementing guidelines from above.''
''We don't even know if it (cobra) is indeed endangered,'' an
official admitted.
Marbil said that after their land-use planning and biodiversity
mapping activities next year, local governments in Tarlac would
be better armed with data in their bid to protect endangered
plants and animals.
''This agro-forest inventory will put us in a better position to
crack down on violators of laws protecting our endangered flora
and fauna,'' he said.
Till then, the fate of the Philippine cobra is in the hands, nay--in
the mouth--of snake-dish aficionados.
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