Viral QC ostriches not covered by permits, says DENR

The owner of the ostriches which escaped their enclosure at a Quezon City subdivision last week didn't have the necessary papers to legitimately keep the flightless birds, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has said.

Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the DENR's regional office in Metro Manila had already met with the camp of the ostriches' owner Jonathan Cruz.

One of the ostriches has died due to stress after it was captured to be returned to its pen.

Antiporda said the ostriches were bought for P30,000 on October 28, 2019 from an ostrich and crocodile farm.

The seller, it is claimed, failed to provide the necessary documents.

On October 28, 2019,  Antiporda said Cruz bought the wildlife from an Edwin Hara.

Cruz's lawyer Charlie Pascual told GMA News Online that the seller introduced himself as a consultant of the Philippine Ostrich and Crocodile Farm when they bought the pair of ostriches, male and female.

Antiporda said the seller only gave Cruz the payment voucher and an expiring local transport permit for the travel of the two ostriches from Misamis Oriental to Nueva Ecija.

Cruz decided to temporarily keep the ostriches in the Quezon City village as he waited for the seller to give him other necessary documents as regards their possesion, Antiporda said.

According to Pascual, Cruz assessed that the ostriches would not survive the long trip to Nueva Ecija and decided to keep them in the QC village for the meantime.

“So, nilagak po muna niya ito sa kaniyang bakanteng lote,” Pascual said.

Cruz said he asked the seller to obtain a new and valid local transport permit and had been following up with him almost every day about the documents.

"Ang sabi niya to follow 'yung ibang documents, based on the statement of the lawyer. Ang binigay na mga samunod na documents is 'yung veterinary certificate at saka 'yung invoice ng Philippine Ostrich and Crocodile Farm,” Antiporda said.

“'Yung pinaka-wildlife registration permit, e hindi naibigay at inabot na nitong COVID-19 incident kung kaya hindi na raw nila naibiyahe 'yung dalwang ostrich,” he added.

According to Antiporda, the document for wildlife registration serves as a permit to possess wildlife.

Antiporda said the DENR was still studying the case to determine steps to address the matter.

“After the review of their document later, maybe tomorrow mag-conduct ulit ng isang technical conference,” Antiporda said.

“Then with that, we can say kung ano ang magiging hakbang, action ng ating pamahalaan against the owner of the said ostriches,” he added.

According to Antiporda, the camp of Cruz argued that they were not aware that ostriches are considered as wildlife since they will keep them for poultry.

Pascual said the ostriches were categorized as livestock, which was also reflected in a DENR document presented by the seller.

“Kaya pa po pares ang kinuha, magpaparami po sana,” Pascual said.

Pascual said the seller had stopped communicating with Cruz when the videos of the running ostriches in subdivision went viral online.

“Wala na nga po. Magmula po noong mangyari ‘yung insidente. Wala na, hindi na po siya ma-kontak,” Pascual said. -NB, GMA News