BOTOLAN, Zambales — The Botolan Wildlife Farm (BWF), a family-run private wildlife sanctuary located at Barangay San Juan in this town, has been authorized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to operate as a wildlife rescue center in the province.

Under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by officials of BWF and DENR-Zambales on March 3, the local wildlife sanctuary will serve as a repository of confiscated, donated, retrieved, turned-over or abandoned wildlife species.

The agreement was signed by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Marife L. Castillo and BWF owner-managers Martin Zoller and Juvy Evasco-Zoller in the presence of other local environment officials, including Masinloc Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ariel A. Mendoza.

As a wildlife rescue center, the Botolan Wildlife Farm will serve as an establishment where sick, injured, or confiscated wildlife will be temporarily kept and rehabilitated prior to release to their natural habitat, or for other modes of dispositions as may be authorized under Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”.

The center will also support scientific studies on the conservation of biological diversity.

The BWF has earned popularity as a destination for family-oriented tourism, educational tours, as well as social events.

It is home to various wildlife, including a Siberian tiger, crocodiles, iguana and tortoise, deer, python, as well as ducks and rabbits.

Meanwhile, DENR-Zambales noted that March 3 was proclaimed World Wildlife Day on December 20, 2013, during the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which also marked the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES).

This international agreement was signed by governments of 176-member states, including the Philippines.

World Wildlife Day primarily aims to raise global awareness on the protection and conservation of the world’s wild plants and animals.

This year’s theme “Forest and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet”, highpoints the central role of forests, forest species and ecosystems services in sustaining the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people globally, and particularly of Indigenous and local communities with historic ties to forested and forest adjacent area. ~