Samal LGU calls for the protection of long-tailed macaques

The residents of Barangay Anonang on Samal island have the rare opportunity of living near a group of Philippine long-tailed macaques and the local government is calling for the conservation of these animals, according to JP Soriano’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday.

The long-tailed macaques have been living among the residents of Barangay Anonang that they are given names and among them is the naughty one, Bugoy, and the shy one is called Gibol. The residents also regularly give food to the macaques.

City Environment and Natural Resources Office-Island Garden City of Samal officer-in-charge Edward Sisor said the residents should regulate the time that they spend with the animals.

“Siguro i-regulate lang natin. May time na ‘di natin sila pinapakain so mayroon tayong mga area na nagdidisiplina ng ganitong klase. Okay din kasi magbe-blend ang tourism at marerespeto rin ang nature at wildlife,” Sisor said.

The Samal government said to protect the monkeys that live in the wild, the residents should refrain from maltreating the animals.

A resident also suggested that the local government should formulate a legislation that seeks to protect the macaques for the future generation.

“We have to create a legislation na maprotektahan siya para maabutan pa ng susunod na henerasyon,” he said. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News