Wild boar poaching goes unabated in Puerto Princesa

The illegal hunting of wild boars thrives in the Philippines' last ecological frontier.

Many camouflaged traps can be found in the swampy forest lands of Barangay Iwahig, Puerto Princesa. Several platforms that locals call "palapala" were also placed on trees.

According to a source, hunters use the platforms to shoot wild boars from afar using homemade shotguns.

Some platforms were even made out of mangrove wood.

Some hunt for game and adventure. Others hunt for livelihood, selling wild pig meat at P200 to P250 per kilo.

According to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development(PCSD), there are two wild boar species found in the province- the Sus barbatus or the bearded pig, and the Sus palawanensis or the warty pig.

Both species have been labeled by the International Union for Conservation for Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable.

The hunting of wild boars is prohibited under Republic Act 9147 or the Philippine Wildlife Act.

The source said poaching of animals in the area also flourishes.

Barangay officials said they are not aware of the illegal hunting in the area, but they vowed to conduct an investigation.

Officials of the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm will also check if the said area is under their jurisdiction.