Reticulated Python, Scops Owl Rescued in Bulacan; DENR Urges Public Vigilance

A reticulated python and a scops owl were separately rescued in Bulacan province, according to the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon. The python was captured in Baliwag City after it attempted to attack the love birds of a resident. The owl was found by a villager in Barangay Gabihan in San Ildefonso town. Residents immediately notified the community environment and natural resources office in Baliwag. CENRO chief Dennis Vergara dispatched a wildlife enforcement team to retrieve the snake and the owl. Vergara described the python as juvenile, measuring 2.6 feet long and weighing 750 grams. The CENRO released the snake in the Biak-Na-Bato National Park. The owl was transported to the Biodiversity Management Bureau-Wildlife Rescue Center in Quezon City for proper rehabilitation and management. Ralph Pablo, executive director of the DENR-Central Luzon, reminded the public to refrain from capturing, harming or keeping wildlife. Any sighting or possession of these animals must be reported immediately to the nearest DENR office or proper authorities, Pablo said. “Prompt reporting allows trained personnel to safely rescue, assess and return wild animals to their natural habitats, while ensuring the safety of the public and the wildlife,” he said.