Local zoo owner hits back at DENR

CEBU, Philippines - A local zoo owner cried foul over environment agency findings that they are not properly handling the animals.

“We’re harassed. We are supposed to be contributing to the advocacy of educating students about animals and here comes the government doing this?” said Butch Guillen, owner of BG Rainforest Park Cebu.

They were given until April 8 to submit proof of legal documentation on wildlife species they possess.

Guillen added that they suspect this was caused by an internal incident where a management staff was fired due to administrative issues involving company money.

“We found out from DENR that the husband of that former employee signed the complaint coursed through an NGO, PAWS,” he revealed, adding that the complaint was malicious since the complainant is related to a dismissed employee.

Guillen said they have a pending civil case against the employee.

The zoo management is also preparing to get back at DENR.

“Because of the harassment, our lawyers shall be filing legal action against DENR at the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas next week,” the zoo’s official statement read.

They wish to clarify that they are properly handling the animals and have a consulting veterinarian training the animal handlers and checking thrice a week.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 earlier found in its Nov. 12, 2012 inventory that the zoo is keeping threatened fauna.

A technical conference was held March 5 this year where both parties discussed the inventory report as well as recommendations on how to improve zoo operations.

According to the report, 24 of the 34 identified wildlife animals are considered threatened species where 17 are endangered, five critically endangered, and two are vulnerable.

Among these threatened animals include four sea turtles, which both zoo management and DENR agreed to be freed to its natural habitat during the technical conference.

“These turtles are donated by my daughter’s friend. These were a size of a coin when given to us,” Guillen said.

The sea turtles are scheduled for turnover today where they will formally be handed to authorities for release to the sea.

Rainforest Facebook page announced the release and dubbed the activity as “Operation: Save The Turtles.”

Guillen also told reporters that an adult eagle was also “turned over” to them by unknown individuals, which they took care of for several months before releasing.

“The adult eagle was in a carton box. Its beak was injured and could not feed by itself. We took care of it, our handlers assisted in feeding it until it eventually healed and grew healthier. We released it to the wild without media buzz,” Guillen said.   (FREEMAN)