Rare Visayan leopard cat spotted in Iloilo

By Gabriela Baron

A rare Visayan leopard cat was spotted in Ajuy, Iloilo in April.

Locally called as “maral,” the Visayan leopard cat is endemic to the islands of Panay and Negros and inhabits remnant forest fragments.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources City Environment & Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO), the Visayan leopard cat was turned over by Juvan Vencer Beloria, a resident of Brgy. Culasi in Ajuy, Iloilo.

Beloria said he rescued the Visayan leopard cat from local folks who initially planned to kill the animal for food, but he offered to buy it out from them for P1,000.

“The DENR 6 commends Beloria’s act of love for the wild,” DENR CENRO said.

The Visayan leopard cats are endangered as listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature. – ag

Popular

ASEAN, China sign free trade upgrade

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday joined fellow leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the signing of...

PBBM notes maritime cooperation as key for regional peace, stability

By Brian Campued Citing the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel as well as the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the...

PBBM champions PH WPS claims in talks with U.S., India at 47th ASEAN Summit

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Cognizant of China’s continuing aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. raised such developments in these...

PBBM ready to disclose SALN, reaffirms commitment towards transparency

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Cognizant with his earlier directive calling for a “lifestyle check” on government officials as part of a renewed call towards transparency...