ILOILO CITY - Two Visayan leopard cats rescued from a poultry farm in Capiz were turned over to a conservation center in Iloilo last week.

According to Dr. Marigold Gonzales, the cats were rescued by poultry farm workers in her farm in Pontevedra, Capiz in March 2018. She then brought the animals to her home in Iloilo City.

She decided to take care of the animals, which she named Ponte and Vedra, while she was looking for their new home.

Gonzales said she refused to abandon the cats anywhere because other people might hurt them.

"They are hunted. Iyung iba ngayon lang gaguwa nga ginakaon daw sila. yung iba probably ginapatay because ginaharm ang livestock nila," she said.

(They are hunted, Iyung iba ngayon lang lumalabas at sinasabing, kinakain daw ang mga ito. Iyung iba probably pinapatay nila dahil hinaharm ang livestock nila.)

Upon learning about the Mariit Conservation Center in Lambunao, Iloilo, she decided to bring the cats over. She hopes that the government would conduct a study about these cats and their recent condition.

"Kung pwede gani ang provincial government to have a study para sa kanila at least to save them or protect them basi mapadamu," Gonzales said.

(Kung pwede sana ang provincial government magkaroon ng study para sa kanila. At least to save them or protect them baka mapadami pa sila.)

Christopher Lastica, chief of Technical Services Division of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Iloilo, said the Visayan leopard cats are already considered vulnerable.

If their number continues to dwindle, they might be classified as an endangered species. They can be found in the mountain ranges of Negros and Panay Islands even in Cebu.

Lastica advised residents living in the upland areas not to capture these cats and just let them roam around the wild.