00:01Increased sightings of finlason squirrels around Metro Manila sparked concern among residents and the Environment Department.
00:07The DENR released an advisory on April 16 reminding the public that the squirrels are an invasive species that may
00:13threaten local ecosystems and that its presence is not promoted.
00:17The finlason squirrel is not native to the Philippines but to other parts of Southeast Asia.
00:21The rodents have been spotted in various cities like Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, and Muntinlupa.
00:26The Biodiversity Management Bureau also reports sightings in nearby provinces Cavite, Batangas, Rizal, and Nueva Ecija.
00:34Finlason squirrels are known to spread rapidly and often compete with local wildlife for food and territory.
00:40Since 2022, the DENR-BMB has tried to control and eradicate the species from the country.
00:45The Bureau's former director, Teresa Lim, also suspects that the invasive squirrels were illegally brought into the country as pets.
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