GUIDELINES IN ESTABLISHING THE WILD FAUNA MARKING AND IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

Pursuant to the objectives of Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of
2001, and its Joint DENR-DA-PCSD Administrative Order No. 01, the
Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9147, and in compliance to
Article VI of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a wild fauna marking and
identification system is hereby established for the information and
compliance by all concerned.

SECTION 1. Scope of Application

1.1 The provision of this Order shall apply to:

1.1.1 All parental stock and progenies of threatened endemic and
exotic species of birds, mammals and reptiles held in captivity or
confined environments such as farms, zoos, aviaries, rescue centers,
conservation breeding centers and other establishments breeding and/or
maintaining said species on the basis of either or a combination of a
Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the DENR, Wildlife Farm
Permit, Wildlife Collector’s Permit, Wildlife Special Use Permit and
Gratuitous Permit issued by the DENR;

1.1.2 Private collections duly registered with the DENR under a
Certificate of Accreditation and Registration or Certificate of Wildlife
Registration;

1.1.3 Wild animals intended for trade, public show such as circus
and/or release back to their natural habitat as part of the wild
population restoration program; and

1.1.4 Wild fauna by-products such as raw hides or skins; leather
goods made of wildlife skin; deadstock and/or framed specimens of
butterflies; and, other items made of wild fauna parts for commercial
use.

1.2 This Order shall not apply to plants, live invertebrates and amphibians.

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. As defined under Republic Act No. 9147 and this Order, the following terms shall mean as:

1. Amphibian – refers to any of the various cold-blooded,
smooth-skinned vertebrates capable of living on land and in water, such
as frogs, toads, salamanders and the like;

2. Avian or Bird – refers to any of the various warm-blooded,
egg-laying vertebrates of the class Aves, characterized by feathers and
forelimbs modified into wings. This includes jungle fowl, wild ducks and
the like;

3. By-product – refers to any part taken from wildlife species such
as meat, hides, antlers, feathers, leather, fur, internal organs,
bones, scales, scutes, carapace and the like, or deadstock specimens of
wildlife in its preserved/stuffed state, including compounds indirectly
produced in a bio-chemical process or cycle:

4. CITES – refers to the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a treaty regulating the
international trade of fauna and flora listed in its Appendices;

5. Critically endangered species – refers to a species or
substances that is facing extremely high risk of extinction in the
wild in the immediate future;

6. DA – refers to the Department of Agriculture

7. DENR – refers to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

8. Deadstock – refers to preserved adult butterfly specimens;

9. Dye – refers to a mixture of soluble material and suitable liquid preferably used to provide color coding for wildlife;

10. Endemic species – refers to species or substances which is
naturally occurring and found only within the specific areas in the
country.

11. Exotic species – refers to species or subspecies which does not naturally occur in the country.

12. Identification mark – refers to any indelible imprint, lead
seal or other suitable means of identifying a wildlife specimen,
designed in such a way as to render its imitation by unauthorized
persons as difficult as possible (e.g. microchip, tattoo, leg band, wing
band, metal tag, dye, etc);

13. Identification system – refers to a system establishing the
authenticity of the wildlife’s distinctiveness, characteristics and
ownership;

14. Invertebrates – refer to the type of animals that do not have
backbones or spinal columns, such as worms, insects, spiders and the
like;

15. Leg band:

15.a Closed leg band – refers to a metal or hard plastic ring or
band in a continuous circle, without any break or join, which has not
been tampered with any way, of a size which cannot be removed from the
bird when its leg is fully grown after having been applied in the first
days of the bird’s life;

15.b Open leg band – refers to a metal or hard plastic ring or
band in a continuous circle, with a break or join worn in either left or
right leg of a juvenile or mature bird that was not marked at its early
stage of life;

16. Mammal – refers to any of the various warm-blooded vertebrates
of the class Mammalia, characterized with hair covering on the skin
and milk producing mammary glands (for females), for nourishing the
young;

17. Microchip – refers to a wireless electronic device, as small as
a grain rice that emits radio signals or radio frequency in
alphanumeric or numeric values detected by a scanner;

18. Paint – refers to a combination of pigments with suitable
thinners or oils forming a closely adhesive substance spread thinly on
the covering of wild fauna (e.g. carapace of semi-aquatic tortoise);

19. Parental Stock – of a breeding operation means the ensemble of the animals in the operation that are used for reproduction;

20. PCSD – refers to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development;

21. Progenies – refers to the offspring produced in a controlled environment from the parental breeding stock;

22. Reptile – refers to any of the various cold-blooded, air
breathing vertebrates of the class Reptilia, such as snakes, lizards,
crocodiles, turtles and the like having an external covering of scales
or horny plates;

23. Scanner – refers to an electronic device that retrieves the unique identification code of the microchip;

24. Secretary – refers to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

25. Tag – a device made of metal, plastic, leather or pliable
material bearing significant information for the identification of a
specific individual or by product of a specific species of wild fauna.
It could be collared around the neck (neck tag) of an animal with
elongated neck such as ostrich, emus and the like; attached to the ear
lobe (ear tag) of hoofed animals like deer, buffalo and zebra or to
the hind flippers or trailing edge of hard-shelled marine turtles,
tortoises and land turtles, or simply a label glued on to the wild fauna
parts or items with, or made of, wild fauna parts;

26. Tattoo – refers to coded permanent mark made on the skin of
animals using a specialized instrument for pricking and staining with
an indelible ink or pigment;

27. Threatened species – is a general term to denote species or
subspecies considered as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable
or other accepted categories of wildlife which population is a risk of
extinction.

28. Wing band – refers to numbered metal clip attached to the wing
web of avian/ membrane of mammal species by means of an applicator.

SECTION 3. Types and Uses of Identification Marks. The
following marking and identification systems shall be used to properly
identify and monitor individuals of birds, mammals and reptiles,
including their progenies, to wit:

3.1 Microchips. The microchips are applicable for the markings of
mammals, large birds and reptiles with the following minimum
requirements:

– The microchip codes should reflect number series corresponding
to country code, owner’s code, specific animal code, and species code;

– The brand of microchips to be used should be ISO compliant;
– The process of implanting the microchip should be handled by a
licensed veterinarian in the presence of DENR representative;
– The applicant should not cause any allergic reaction to the
wildlife. In case of animal mortality attributed to the microchip
itself, the supplier shall be held responsible for such death; and
– The transponder should not be re-used and should be destroyed upon the death of the animals.

3.2 Tattoo. The tattoo is applicable for the marking of small to large mammals with the following minimum requirements:

– The tattoo codes should be specific for every individual per
species reflecting specific animal code, source and owner’s code; and
– The ink for the purpose should be permanent and not cause any allergic reaction to the wildlife.

3.3 Leg Bands. The leg bands are applicable for the marking of avian species with the following minimum requirements:

– The leg bands should be specific for every individual per
species reflecting the country’s code owner’s code, source and bird
number;
– For birds 2-3 weeks of age and for very small birds (e.g. finches), closed leg bands must be used; and
– For juvenile and mature birds, open leg bands may be used.

3.4 Wing Bands. The wing bands are applicable for the marking of avian/mammal species with the minimum requirement:

– Wing band characters should be numerical and should contain a
unique series number reflecting the country’s code, owner’s code,
owner’s code; source and animal number.

3.5 Dyes and Paints. The dyes and paints are temporary markers and
may be applied to any bird, mammal or reptile intended for release. Only
non-toxic and non-allergic dyes and paints shall be used for the
purpose. Provided further, that prior to the release of subject animal,
permanent markings in accordance with this Order shall be used.

3.6 Tags. The Tags are applicable for the marking of stuffed
mammals, birds, reptiles and wildlife parts or items with wild fauna
parts.

SECTION 4. Guidelines in the Use of Wild Fauna Marking and Identification System

4.1 The marking and identification system for wildlife, without
excluding the use of other methods duly approved by the DENR, may adopt
the use of microchips bearing permanent, non-programmable, unalterable
and permanently unique codes for the identification of live animals. The
markings and identification system to be used for each taxon are shown
in Annex A;^[*]

4.2 The use of coded microchip implants shall be adopted for
critically endangered species, particularly those subject to
international trade;

4.3 Exportation/re-exportation and/or importation of wildlife shall be subject to the following:

4.3.1 The export of wild fauna specimens are marked in accordance
with Section 3 of this Order. The type and identification number must
be indicated in the export permit; and

4.3.2 The import and/or re-export of wild fauna specimens shall
bear the appropriate marking system established by the country of
origin. In the event that the country of origin has no established
wildlife marking and identification system yet, the importer must be
required to have his/her imported fauna marked/tagged in accordance with
Section 3 of this Order; within one (1) month after entry of said fauna
into the country.

4.4 The marking/tagging costs shall be the responsibility of the facility owner, permit holder and/or owner of wild fauna;

4.5 All holders of Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR) and
Wildlife Farm Permits (WFP) who have established their own marking
system may continue to use such system until the consummation of their
available wildlife identification marks/tags. For this purpose,
concerned CWR/WFP holders must submit an inventory of their existing
wildlife identification tags/marks to concerned DENR Regional Offices
for record and monitoring purposes; and

4.6 PAWB shall identify manufacturers of wild fauna marks/tags
based on the quality of their products and legality of their operations
as proven by SEC Registration, DTI, Certification and Mayor’s business
permit. The PAWB shall provide the DENR Regional Officers the list of
manufacturers of said marks/tags for wild fauna. Regular procurement
procedure will be adopted.

SECTION 5. Establishment of Wild Fauna Identification Code System

5.1 The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) shall develop
the identification coding system and advise DENR Regional Offices of
their corresponding codes within three (3) months from the issuance of
this Order;

5.2 In the Implementation of this Order, the PAWB and all DENR Regional Offices shall:

5.2.1 ensure that threatened wild fauna species in captivity
especially those subject for trade (export, re-export, import) are
appropriately marked/tagged based on the provisions of this Order;

5.2.2 prohibit trade in specimens in violation hereof and execute
measures against the violators in accordance with Section 7 hereof;

5.2.3 Maintain a registry of wild fauna marked/tagged in their respective areas of jurisdiction;

5.2.4 submit to the Secretary; a) compliance report within six
(6) months after the issuance of this Order; b) copy of annual registry
of wild fauna marked and tagged; and, c) yearly status reports on the
implementation of this Order, including photo-documentation, list of
violators and cases filed in Court, if any.

SECTION 6. Incentive Clause. Th e users of the
marking and identification system may avail of the incentive such as
technical assistance from the DENR on matters pertaining to management
of wild fauna species in their possession; recognition and
acknowledgement by the DENR as legitimate sources of captive-bred wild
fauna among others. Their compliance to the provisions of this Order
shall be promoted in the Information, Education and Communication
campaign materials of the DENR and serve as one of the bases in the
renewal of the permit/s issued by the DENR.

SECTION 7. Sanctions. Violation of the provisions of this
Order shall result to non-issuance of permits for trade purposes and/or
suspension or revocation of the Certificate of Wildlife Registration,
Wildlife Farm Permit, Wildlife Collectors Permit, Wildlife Special Use
Permit or Gratuitous Permit, as the case may be, issued by the DENR,
after due process without prejudice to the application of other
measures, as may be appropriate and applicable as provided for under
existing laws, rules and regulations. All abandoned wild fauna shall be
retrieved and placed in the nearest DENR rescue centers.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All orders, circulars and issuances which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. If any part of
this Order is declared unconstitutional or otherwise defective on any
ground, the remaining parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and
effective.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of national
circulation and upon acknowledgement of a copy thereof by the Office of
the National Administrative Register (ONAR).

Adopted: 30 Jan. 2009

(SGD.) JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR.
Secretary

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^[*] Text Available at Office of the National Administrative Register, U. P. Law Complex, Diliman, Quezon City