An adult Palm Civet Cat (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) was rescued by the caretaker of Palawan Adventist School recently when he saw that it was fell from the roof of their school.
Currently, the said animal is under recovery at Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC) in Bgy. Irawan after it was turned-over to Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) by Mr. Palentino Caballero last May 12, PCDS Spokesperson Jovic Fabello says.
“Discretion na ng PWRCC until when [that animal will be undergoing a rehabilitation and it would be] based on its assessment. They will notify the PCSDS if the animal is due for release or [still needed a] further observation. Wildlife release is conducted with PCSDS supervision with PWRCC,” according to Fabello through a text message when asked if the Palm Civet Cat is already released back to the wild.
He also confirmed that luckily, the animal was not injured but it is dehydrated.
According to a posted article of PCSD last May 12, around 7:30 in the evening of May 11, Mr. Caballero saw the Civet Cat fell from the roof of one of their classrooms within their Church Compound in Fernandez St., Puerto Princesa City. Afterwards he immediately asked for the assistance of a certain Edgar Firmanes and also asked him to report the incident to PCSDS.
And when the PCSDS got the information, the PCSDS-Wildlife Trafficking Monitoring Unit quickly responded to the area by rescuing the said Palm Civet Cat and brought the captured animal to PWRCC for recovery and proper disposition.
PCSD also added that the Palm Civet Cat also known as “Musang” or “Alamid,” a mammalian carnivore, can be found not only in Palawan but also in other provinces such as but not limited to Batangas, Cavite, South Cotabato, Samar, Panay, Benguet, and Kalinga Apayao. It can also be found in some regions of Asia.
“The Palm Civet Cat is a resilient animal which is able to thrive in a variety of environments. It naturally lives in temperate and tropical forests, and development areas like parks, suburban gardens, plantations, and fruit orchards. Where it chooses to live depends on the availability of food and presence of areas it can rest in,” the information says.
PCSDS also cited that due to poaching and illegal wild trade, common Palm Civet Cat has been listed in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species since 2008.
“Buyers use it for increasing the production of coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the said Asian Palm Civet.
The PCSDS, the implementing-arm of the PCSD, asks everyone to report information about wildlife, through PCSD Hotlines at 0935-116-2336 (Globe/TM) and 0948-937-2200 (Smart/Talk N Text) or through their Facebook page at facebook.com/pcsd7611.