Repatriated Luzon bleeding-hearts to be released in northern Luzon watershed

The Luzon bleeding-heart doves brought back from Singapore are set to be released in a watershed in northern Luzon, following a conservation breeding agreement.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), 10 of the Luzon bleeding-hearts were brought home to the Philippines and are set to be released back to wildlife.

"Nagpadala tayo ng mga pairing stock sa Singapore for the conservation breeding. Triny nila kung paano magkakaroon ng reproduction under the controlled environment," Ricardo Calderon, director of the DENR's Biodiversity Management Bureau, said in a report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday.

"Near-threatened na 'yung status niya, ibig sabihin hindi na ganon kadami yung population niya, so para hindi dumating sa level ng extinction," he added.

In the report, Calderon noted that importance of having a healthy bird population as this also signifies the health of the country's natural resources.

"'Pag maganda at marami 'yung ating mga bird population, ibig sabihin maganda 'yung ating mga kagubatan at 'pag maganda 'yung ating mga kagubatan, ibig sabihin marami tayong tubig, may panglaban tayo sa climate change," he said.

Moving forward, Calderon called on the public to let the birds be and enjoy their habitat.

"Let the birds and wildlife stay in the wild. 'Wag nating hulihin, 'wag nating barilin, 'wag nating paglaruan kasi mas maganda at mas maayos sila na nandoon sila sa kanilang natural habitat," he said. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News