By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two Visayan leopard cats, locally known as “maral,” were rescued at Barangay Matab-ang in Negros Occidental’s Talisay City yesterday morning.

Based on a report from the Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), a laborer in Hacienda Gusa was cutting down sugarcane when he discovered the two Visayan leopard cats.

The CDRRMO’s Animal Rescue Unit rescued the two felines, and they are set to be turned over to the Talisay City Environment and Natural Resources Office for proper disposition.

The Talisay City government emphasized the provisions of Republic Act 9147, also known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, which imposes appropriate penalties on anyone who captures, hunts, kills, sells, or buys Visayan leopard cats.

Marals are endemic in Panay and Negros, where they inhabit remnant forest fragments, and have already lost around 90 to 95 percent of their natural habitat.

The felines are also known to inhabit the islands of Cebu and Masbate.

However, it is believed that they are now locally extinct or close to extinction in the said islands./DGB, WDJ