A baby Philippine Long-tailed Macaque was found dead along the roadside of Barangay Santa Lucia late Monday morning, prompting renewed calls from environmental workers to stop the practice of feeding wildlife along highways.
The incident was reported by environmental advocate Rey Donn Mariñas Villablanca, who said they discovered the roadkilled macaque around 11 a.m. while passing the area after an errand in Barangay Luzviminda.
According to Villablanca, the site is located within the Proposed Malabo Critical Habitat, an area intended for the protection of threatened wildlife species.
A few meters from where the macaque was found, Villablanca said a troop of more than 20 macaques had gathered near the roadside. He observed that some of the animals were crying, while others appeared stressed or showed aggression toward passing vehicles.
Villablanca attributed the troop’s presence near the highway to frequent feeding by motorists. He said people have been feeding them and that buses and shuttles stop to offer food, thinking it is harmless or cute. “But it isn’t. It’s dangerous. And today, we were looking at the consequences,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
The Philippine Long-tailed Macaque is classified as Endangered in Palawan and is protected under PCSD Resolution Number 15-521. The species plays an important ecological role as seed dispersers in forest ecosystems.
Villablanca warned that feeding wildlife alters their natural behavior and draws them toward roads and populated areas, increasing the likelihood of accidents. “Feeding wildlife is not an act of kindness; it’s often the beginning of their suffering,” he said. “If we truly care for them, we let them stay wild.”
He added that the incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of the Subaraw Biodiversity Festival, noting that the event highlights the importance of wildlife protection. “Let’s not wait for another body on the roadside before we learn,” he said. “Let’s protect them by simply not feeding them.”
