Philippines seizes hundreds of smuggled animals

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On Tuesday, authorities seized hundreds of exotic pets smuggled into the Philippines, a regional hub in the illicit animal trade.

The cache of some 300 creatures, which included squirrel-like sugar gliders, wallabies and a threatened species of cockatoo, was one of the nation's largest wildlife busts.

"In terms of live animals, this was likely one of our biggest (captures)," government environment official Rogelio Demelletes told AFP.

Four suspects were arrested in the raid that turned up animals native to Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

The haul also included seven red birds of paradise and 26 Moluccan cockatoos, which wildlife monitor IUCN considers to be at high risk of extinction in the wild.

The cache of some 300 creatures was one of the nation's largest wildlife busts. /AFP Photo

Philippine officials put the market value of the confiscated creatures at 192,000 US dollars, which is more than all the live wildlife seized by Manila last year.

As the global convention on wildlife trade lists the Moluccan cockatoo as a species threatened with extinction, the suspects face up to 12 years in prison if convicted under the country's wildlife act.

The Philippines is a regional hub in the illicit animal trade. /AFP Photo

Despite the law, the Philippines has a burgeoning illegal trade in wildlife, increasingly transacted on social media platforms.

Source(s): AFP