SAN JOSE, Antique – August is being celebrated as DulunganMonth in Antique to raise public awareness on the biological, ecological and cultural importance of the Rufuos-headed Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni), locally known as Dulungan.
Provincial Ordinance 2020-208 setting Dulungan Month is part of the provincial government’s initiatives to protect and conserve wildlife.
Found in the long stretch of the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP) and the Central Panay Mountain Range (CPMR), the Dulungan is considered the “farmer of the forest”. It helps in reforestation through seed dispersal (Dulungan feed on fruit trees).
Dulungan is an endemic species of hornbill in the Philippines, specifically in Panay and Negros islands.
Despite the conservation efforts of the government and private organizations, this bird is now considered as Critically Endangered (CR) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.
Dulungan are in danger because of forest destruction, illegal cutting of trees, and loss of their natural habitat – a reason for them to be now visible to the poachers to sell or worse, kill them.
Recognizing the cultural significance of this elusive bird and being the flagship bird of the Antique provincial government, the Dulungan has been made the highlight of the local Madja-as Festival to establish the importance of their existence and preserve their natural habitat.
This year’s Dulungan Month theme is “Pispis nga Dulungan, Mangunguma kang Kagubatan, Aton Amligan”. Itfocuses on intensifying public awareness on preserving and conserving natural resources.
“This conservation effort of Antique is indeed laudable. This precious Dulungan and any other flora and fauna are a sight to see and preserve. They may not be as many as before but with the help of stakeholders, and even tourists, their number may gradually increase,” said Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6.
“DENR supports endeavors that conserve and protect our environment and natural resources. Furthermore, illegal poaching, illegal structures and illegal entry in Protected Areas (PA) are violations and punishable under Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act,” he added.
Under the RA 9147, the penalty depends not only to the poaching activities but also to the conservation status of the wildlife –Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened or Least Concern.
Aside from the Dulungan, there are other endemic species found in Panay and Negros islands including the Philippine Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi), Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons) and Negros Bleeding-Heart Pigeon (Gallicolumba keayi, DENR-6)/PN
