ILOILO City – A rescued Brahminy kite, locally known as dapay, was turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Community ENR Office-Barotac Nuevo in the municipal hall of Bingawan, Iloilo.
Bingawwan mayor Mark Palabrica, together with Geronimo Espada Jr., turned over the bird on Monday.
The animal was captured by a certain “Boknoy”” on Sunday, May 3.
Espada posted on social media the capture.
The bird was temporarily placed inside a chicken cage made of bamboo in the residence of Remalonso Eulalio in Barangay Poblacion, Bingawan. They fed the bird.
According to Reyzyl Joy Almendrajelo, forest technician of DENR Region 6, the bird is listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as “less concerned.”
However, she stressed, “Those caught hunting, domesticating and killing this bird will still be penalized.”
Mayor Palabrica told Panay News the municipality of Bingawan was declared a Bird Sanctuary Municipality and they have ordinances that penalize anyone hunting, killing or domesticating birds.
“Imprisonment and a fine of not more than P2,000 sa madakpan,” he said.
The last time he saw a dapay was way back in 1989, according to Palabrica. He was then a Grade 6 pupil.
“Diri ako nagtapos sang elementarya sa Bingawan. Sang gamay ako may makita ko galupad-lupad nga dapay from time to time,” Palabrica said.
That a Brahminy kite had been sighted in Bingawan indicated that the town’s air quality was becoming better, he added.
Perhaps this was because of the enhanced community quarantine; less motor vehicles were moving around and polluting the air, said Palabrica.
DENR will be assessing the bird’s health. If it is in good state, it would be released to its natural habitat.
The Brahminy kite is primarily a scavenger, feeding mainly on dead fish and crabs, especially in wetlands and marshland, but occasionally hunts live prey such as hares and bats.
When fishing over water, they may sometimes land in the water, but manage to swim and take off without much trouble./PN
