Threats to the Philippine Cockatoo

Hunting

Hunting has been the most lethal pill that cockatoos and other wildlife in Palawan had to swallow. It goes on a daily grind peaking during rearing months when the babies and their parents are most vulnerable. Catching wildlife has been elevated to an art form in many parts of the Philippines and the tiny island of Rasa is no exception. At first we might think that these things do not happen in pristine Palawan, the so called last frontier, but it does. And it happens in proportions that might scare you.

The islands are not safe. The height of trees is not a hindrance. The remoteness of a habitat is not a deterrent. The demand for the animals is so strong that you can see these recently flightless birds not just in Manila but also in many parts of the country. Many residents of Palawan themselves keep birds as pets. We have become insatiably possessive and proud. Everything cuddly and cute must be owned and displayed like a rare ornament. The islands are not safe.

Habitat and wildlife are in a race to see who goes first. It is a race we do not welcome the outcome because we end up as the losers. Extinction has never been this closely held by a human hand.

One thing that is preventing the total degradation of Palawan is that many Palaweños maintain a strong attachment to the environment and are proud of their land. Many of them are aware of the problems and have kept a watchdog stance against rampant poaching and logging. This set off a balance that has kept the rape abated.

Trade

Trading requires supply and demand, a giver and a taker. In the case of Palawan wildlife, demand is high because of the uniqueness of the fauna and supply is high because the forest has long been undisturbed.

After the birds are captured, they are brought to Puerto Princesa, the capital, or to Brooke's Point, or to some other town and sold for 50 pesos to a high of 150 pesos. The buyer then sells the birds to a shipper at the port for around 300 pesos. The birds sail towards the port area of Novaliches in Metro Manila where they are received upon payment of at least 700 pesos. Pet shops in and around Manila scamper for the birds and pays about 1500 pesos for each bird. Pet shops market them for around 3000 pesos depending on their supply and the heat of confiscations by the governtment. They sell fast and if everything is clear, they wouldn't last a week at the store.

You can also call this trail a chronicle of death.

Caged

Taking care of birds whether as pets or as a captive stock for breeding is a sensitive issue. It is an issue that we do not plan to address here. It is an issue who's virtues and misgivings we must put on the shoulders of individuals concerned.

We must however stress the fact that once the Katala's can be found throughout the archipelago. It is considered rare now. What remains to be seen is whether the last family of cockatoos in Isla Rasa can increase its numbers and survive in the long run. We are sure, though, that if the pet trade continues to take from the wild, we might as well put a tombstone in Rasa. While the struggle continues, we strongly recommend giving cockatoos in the wild a break.

In the meantime if you are in a terrible itch to see a Philippine Cockatoo, you might want to consider going to the Island of Rasa. You will love them in the wild. And that's a guarantee.

Logging

Will it ever stop? Even the revered Palawan has not been spared from hacking and sawing activities. The cutting of mangroves and forest trees have been inching away at the precious reserve. What's interesting is that the rest of the country is in a miasma of illusion. The illusion that this elongated island is untouched, that it is a virgin to the dirty and destructive human hands. Many still can not grasp the frailty of Palawan while many are still in a state of denial.

Palawan has many other problems including illegal fishing methods. There has also been a steady influx of immigrants lured by tourism aspects of Palawan. Malaria and other forest diseases that kept the province isolated for so many decades are no longer threats.

The answer should be sustained vigilance. Giving a damn matters. Taking time out to care will go a long way.