DENR CENRO Calaca assisted Born To Be Wild in rescuing a King Cobra in Agoncillo, Batangas

A team from the Enforcement and Monitoring Section of DENR CENRO Calaca, headed by Forester Judilyn T. Enoc, provided assistance to the Barangay Officials and the team from GMA Network's program, “Born to be Wild”. The program headed by Doc Neilsen Donato, reported and rescued one (1) King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in Barangay Subic Ibaba, Agoncillo Batangas.

 

The King Cobra, as identified by the show's host-Veterinarian Doctor Donato, is very dangerous due to its venom. It was captured by a resident, Mr. Ben Dimaano, last October in the house of Mrs. Abigail De Castro from the same Barangay. According to Mrs. De Castro, the said wildlife was spotted in the bedroom of his son at around 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and they immediately called Mr. Dimaano and CENRO Calaca to assist in the rescue. Mr. Dimaano manifested that this is not his first time to rescue this kind of wildlife.

 

According to Dr Donato, there are a lot of factors that makes the King Cobra seek refuge and this might have a connection to its threatened habitat brought about by the ash fall from the eruption of Taal Volcano.

 

During the rescue, the wildlife was carefully transferred to a much larger cage by Mr. Ariel Pecunio, representative from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). According to For. Judilyn T. Enoc, Chief, EMS CENRO Calaca, the wildlife will be brought to the DENR Rescue Center in Calauan, Laguna. DENR CALABARZON Regional Office will temporarily keep in custody, further evaluate, and assess the health condition of the wildlife prior to its eventual release back to the wild, in accordance with Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147).

 

Moreover, CENRO Calaca's EMS team conducted Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities in the barangay related to Republic Act 9147. The Barangay Officials and community residents were encouraged to report immediately to CENRO Calaca, the nearest DENR Office, if there will be any similar occurence in the area.

 

The rescue operation was featured in Born to be Wild last November 7, 2021 in the segment entitled “Hari ng Kamandag”,