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Presence of invasive Finlayson squirrel ‘alarming’ — ecologist

An ecologist warns that the presence of the Finlayson’s squirrel—an invasive species classified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—is alarming, noting that its presence competes with native wildlife. This comes after the DENR warned the public following multiple sightings of the non-native squirrel species across Metro Manila, noting that its presence was “not promoted.” In an exclusive interview with _The Manila Times_ on April 23, 2026, Von Eric Tagarino of the University of the Philippines explained why this was a growing threat. He added that the species directly competed with native species for resources, potentially disrupting local ecosystems.

VIDEO BY ALLEN LIMOS

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Transcript
00:00Makita ko na nga itong squirrel na ito dati pa. Actually, mayroong reports na rin as early as 2007 pa.
00:05Tapos parang ngayon nga nag, may mga, ano ulit ngayon, issues, reported sightings, kaya parang makakabahala daw sa public, ganyan.
00:15Pero sige, try natin mas ipaliwanag further in an ecological standpoint din.
00:20So, yung Finlayson Squirrel, yung I think Callius Curus Finlaysonai, nasabi, according sa DNR, na-introduce daw siya likely through
00:31exotic pet trade, ganyan.
00:33Tapos nakawala, napakawala, and then hanggang siya nag-establish siya dito sa Metro Manila and other places.
00:41According naman kasi doon sa NISAP, yung meron tayo actually na parang framework or guideline for that, no?
00:52Galing din yan sa DNR.
00:55So, yung NISAP, it's the National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan.
00:59And itong squirrel na ito actually, na-classify na siya as being an alien invasive species.
01:05So, for a species kasi to be considered an alien invasive, we have conditions, we have parameters.
01:14Pero basically, first, it must be introduced nga.
01:18So, hindi ito yung native natural habitat niya.
01:21It was likely introduced from other parts of Asia, no?
01:27So, yeah, walang ganyan sa Pilipinas, naturally.
01:29Naroon tayong nine squirrels, pero they're in Visayas and Mindanao.
01:34Sa Luzon, wala talaga tayong squirrels.
01:36Sorry kung nag-ihyap ako, pero yeah.
01:38So, pangalawa naman.
01:39So, first, they have to be introduced nga.
01:41Yung dito yung likely na place nila.
01:42Pangalawa, yun, they have to establish.
01:46And these squirrels, they're generalist species.
01:49They can feed on a variety of food sources.
01:52So, talagang sobrang, ano nila, survivalists in a sense.
01:57So, they feed on seeds, fruits, crops, ganyan.
02:01Even bird eggs.
02:02Pero, yeah, that can be concerning pag-usapin natin later.
02:05Tapos, pangatlo, yun nga, they can thrive.
02:08So, they thrive naman kasi una-una sa lahat.
02:11Wala rin silang natural predators here.
02:13Tapos, walang other squirrels or walang other rodent that occupies the same niche na kakumpetensya nila sa mga resources.
02:20So, yeah, yun yung squirrel natin na yan.
02:26Pangalawa, ano, nakakabahala ba siya?
02:29I would say na, huwag tayo magpanik.
02:33Pero, yeah, of course, from an ecological standpoint, nakakabahala siya.
02:36Kasi, imagine, 2007 pa pala yung record niya na nakita, una nakita.
02:42Pero, noong 2002 pa lang, parang nagkaroon ng action to, parang, control its population, no?
02:49Tapos, parang, it's, ngayon, 2026 na.
02:51Tapos, parang, wala pa rin tayong clear guidelines on, parang, controlling the population of these species.
02:58So, I think, from that perspective, hindi ako a government employee and I'm only a, I'm just a boy, basically.
03:08Pero, siguro, realistic steps on what people can do is do not feed these squirrels.
03:15So, yun lang, una-una, huwag natin silang i-try to capture and parang, oh, baka pwede ko silang i
03:22-control myself.
03:23No, we should still try to control them in a very humane way possible.
03:28And, of course, signs na back pa din.
03:30Siguro, we can report to DNR, to authorities, kung may mahuli man tayo.
03:33Pero, huwag natin silang i-try hulihin kasi they can be carriers of rabies and other potential zoonotic diseases, no?
03:43So, parang, una-una silang natin silang pakainin.
03:45They might be really cute.
03:47They might be very cute.
04:17They might be very cute.
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