A feral white cat, frequently seen on the Philippines’ third – highest mountain peak, has been removed by authorities, triggering a wave of online protests from the animal’s fans.
The cat, named Pugal, with distinct orange markings on Mount Pulag in northern Philippines, became a local celebrity. Hikers and campers who stopped to play with her shared her photos online, which made her popular across the country.
However, environmental officials have confirmed that the cat has been removed from the area. They stated that the region is a protected landscape due to its rich biodiversity. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, cats are classified as an invasive species.
On Sunday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said in a statement, “Pugal is now being taken care of by one of our Pulag Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) staff. A veterinarian is being sent to check on the cat.”
This action came shortly after a local media outlet, Cordillera Sun, called the cat “an invasive predator that needs to be removed from the area”. The outlet wrote, “Yes, but it’s also an unwanted predator. It’s an invasive species that hunts down native and endemic wildlife that live within the Mount Pulag protected landscape. These include birds, small mammals like cloud rats, and small reptiles.”
Nevertheless, the cat’s followers have condemned the move. One user expressed disappointment, saying, “It is deeply disappointing that while animals simply try to enjoy their natural habitats, some tourists continue to damage these ecosystems through careless behavior and pollution.”
Heidi Marquez – Caguioa, the programme director of the Animal Kingdom Foundation, told the South China Morning Post, “Environmental experts say cats should not be allowed to roam free in the wild because they pose a significant threat to native wildlife and the ecosystem. We also cannot be sure that they would be safe from larger wildlife and predators when left on their own. They can be exposed to different kinds of illnesses or be a carrier of diseases into the wild.”
The conflict between the love for the cat and the need to protect the ecological environment has sparked a heated debate among Filipinos, with many expressing their hope for a more balanced solution to be found.
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