Maritime cops find Sulawesi animals in boat

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Maritime police intercepted on Monday an Indonesian-owned boat believed to have been used in smuggling wild animals out of Indonesia.

Supt. Edgard Cuanan, chief of the Philippine National Police maritime unit in Central Mindanao, said his men found 17 Sulawesi bear cuscuses or Sulawesi bear phalangers, a species of marsupials belonging to the Phalangeridae family, when they seized the boat that was docked in Purok Malok in Barangay Labangal here past 3 a.m.

Five persons—two Indonesians and three Filipinos—were arrested.

Cuanan said he immediately informed the wildlife division of the community environment and natural resources office (Cenro) about the seizure.

Zosimo Soriano, head of the wildlife division, said the recovered animals are endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands of Indonesia.

Soriano said one of the animals placed inside a sack had died. He recommended the immediate quarantine of the rest for 30 days to ensure their good health before they are transported back to Indonesia.

Bear cuscuses are being sold at P7,000 to P8,000 each, he said.

Cuanan identified those arrested as Julieto Risari and Ryan Lucas, Indonesian owners of the boat, and their local contacts, Mark John Villaber of Barangay Calumpang, Abner Manuel of Barangay Lagao and John Monicillo of Barangay Lumasal in Maasim town in Sarangani.

Police also recovered dried leaves of marijuana from them. Aquiles Z. Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao