The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) through its Bacolod City outpost intercepted on Friday an attempt to smuggled endangered Visayan leopard cats from Negros Oriental to Manila.
Acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, the PCG personnel apprehended a van in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, containing two adult males, one adult female, and two juvenile leopard cats.
The suspect responsible for the smuggling has been arrested and faces charges under Republic Act No. 9147, known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
Visayan leopard cats, locally referred to as “maral,” are small wildcats endemic to the Philippine islands of Negros, Cebu, and Panay.
They have been classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List since 2008 due to habitat loss and declining populations.
The rare leopard cats play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling rodent populations. The PCG said the suspect was turned over to the Bacolod City police for documentation and legal proceedings.
