MAGPET, Cotabato — Six Mindanao racket-tail parrots have been returned to their natural habitat in a wildlife conservation effort by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), following their turnover by a concerned citizen in Magpet, Cotabato.
The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Matalam released the six birds on September 24, 2026, giving them another opportunity to survive and thrive in the wild after they were recovered from a farm in the municipality.
The release forms part of the agency’s efforts to protect native wildlife and return animals to their natural environments whenever conditions are suitable for their survival.
The Mindanao racket-tail (Prioniturus waterstradti) is a medium-sized parrot endemic to Mindanao, making its conservation particularly important to the island’s biodiversity. Beyond its distinctive presence in the forest, the species plays an ecological role in seed dispersal, helping sustain forest regeneration and maintain the natural processes that support healthy ecosystems, particularly in montane habitats.
However, the species remains under pressure from habitat destruction and the illegal capture of wild birds for the pet and cage-bird trade.
Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09, or the Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and Their Categories, the Mindanao racket-tail is classified as Vulnerable (VU), indicating that it faces an elevated risk of extinction in the wild if threats to its survival are not adequately addressed.
Deforestation continues to threaten the forest environments that the species depends on, while trapping for the pet trade further reduces wild populations. The combination of habitat loss and wildlife exploitation makes the protection of remaining populations and their natural habitats essential to the species’ long-term survival.
The latest release also highlights the role that ordinary citizens can play in wildlife conservation. The turnover of the six birds by a concerned individual provided authorities with an opportunity to assess and return the animals to the wild, rather than allowing them to remain outside their natural environment.
DENR Region XII urged the public to help protect native wildlife by allowing wild animals to remain in their natural habitats and refraining from keeping them as pets.
The agency also called on residents to immediately report suspected illegal poaching, wildlife trading and distressed wild animals to the appropriate authorities.
Public participation, the agency emphasized, is vital to protecting wildlife and sustaining the ecological functions of forests. Beyond individual rescue and release efforts, preventing illegal capture and preserving natural habitats remain important to ensuring that native species continue to survive in the wild.
The release of the six parrots represents a conservation effort at the local level, while underscoring a broader responsibility: protecting Mindanao’s wildlife requires not only government intervention but also the cooperation of communities that share its forests and natural resources.