Photo of the Taal Island taken on January 13, 2020. Balete PNP
In the midst of the evacuation process at Taal Volcano, which spewed ash up to nine miles into the air over the weekend, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is reminding everyone not to harm the endangered animals fleeing from the eruption.
Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda told members of the media in press conference, “Ang Taal Volcano po, ‘yang lugar na pong ‘yan ay protected area so we expect na maraming endangered species diyan lalo na po ‘yung mga ibon. May mga hornbill din po diyan. Noong umalog po ‘yung lupa, itong mga hayop na ito ang unang lumipad patungo sa mainland na nakikita ng tao.”
[“Taal Volcano is a protected area so there are many endangered species there, including birds. There are hornbills there. During the earthquake, these birds flew towards the mainland, which people saw.”]
He adds, “Huwag po nating sasaktan o gagalawin. We need to save ‘yung endangered species na ‘yan. Matagal po nating inalagaan ‘yan para huwag maging extinct.” [“Let’s not hurt or mind them. We need to save these endangered species. We have been caring for them for a long time so they wouldn’t be extinct.”]
Taal Volcano update:
Taal Volcano is still under alert level 4, which means that a “hazardous eruption” could happen in the coming hours or days. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) strongly recommends the “total evacuation of Taal Volcano Island and areas at high risk to pyroclastic density currents and volcanic tsunami within a 14-kilometer radius from Taal Main Crater.”
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