Malapatan, Sarangani — A juvenile female Yellow-headed Water Monitor Lizard (Varanus cumingi), locally known as “Halo,” was successfully rescued and turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Glan on November 21, 2024.
The monitor lizard was initially discovered in the residential area of Ernesto Amante in Purok Masbong, Poblacion, Malapatan. It was turned over to the Sarangani Maritime Police Station during a routine monitoring operation. Responding promptly, the police station coordinated with the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) of Malapatan and CENRO Glan to ensure the reptile’s safety and proper care.
CENRO Glan’s team conducted an assessment, reporting that the lizard measured 33 centimeters from snout to vent and weighed approximately 1 kilogram. After confirming its good health, the monitor lizard was deemed fit for immediate release. It was returned to its natural habitat in the mangrove area of Glan Padidu, Glan town, later that day.
The Yellow-headed Water Monitor is a species native to the Philippines and is relatively common in its range. However, it faces increasing threats from habitat destruction, illegal collection for its skin, exploitation in the exotic pet trade, and hunting for bush meat. Classified under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the species is protected to prevent its population from declining due to unregulated trade and habitat loss.
DENR-CENRO Glan underscored the importance of protecting biodiversity in the region and called on the public to report any wildlife sightings or incidents to the appropriate authorities. “Wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility,” a CENRO representative stated, urging communities to help safeguard the environment and its fauna.
This rescue and release highlight the ongoing efforts to conserve wildlife in Sarangani, ensuring that species like the Yellow-headed Water Monitor continue to thrive in their natural habitats.
