A netizen on Friday called attention to an unnamed Facebook user selling what appears to be white or strawberry tiger cubs.

These tigers have a rare genetic color variation, characterized by light coats that are either creamy white with brown or faint grey stripes or pale gold with brown or red stripes.

“I am honestly sick to my stomach right now. I just saw a post in an exotic pet group selling tiger cubs here in the PH, and the poor guys look completely terrified and stressed out,” the netizen said, asking how to get authorities involved.

One commenter said online groups like these were rampant, thriving on the sale of endangered species like hornbill birds.

“Wala naman nakukulong dahil sa weak enforcement, bagal kumilos ng (government) tapos may ‘mahirap lang kami’ card,” the commenter lamented.

Another commenter pointed out that these tiger cubs were not captured from the wild but were bred in captivity, as there are no tiger species native to Philippine jungles.

They also noted that it is costly to keep such exotic animals.

“You need to make multi-million peso investments para makabuhay ng ganyan, wala pong locals ang nagmamay-ari ng mga tigre,” they explained, although they did agree that local wildlife are being “massacred” by uneducated locals, unaware of the impact of their actions on biodiversity and the overall ecological balance of their environments.

One comment also said they believed the tiger cubs were extremely inbred and born with deformities, in the owners’ attempts to produce or multiply their white tigers.

Multiple comments gave the contact numbers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB).

While white or strawberry tigers are not native to the country, the post reflects the country’s struggle with the hidden industry of illegal wildlife trade.

Home to over 52,000 species, with around half of these endemic or found nowhere else in the world, the Philippines is one of the 18 mega-biodiverse countries in the world, according to the DENR and the Convention of Biological Diversity.

The DENR has previously warned about the online illegal wildlife trade, emphasizing that almost 2,000 species are threatened or at risk of extinction.

“Our nation’s incredible biodiversity has also made it a target of illegal wildlife trade, both on the ground and online… Each wildlife purchase brings a species closer to extinction, disrupts ecosystems, and endangers public health,” the environment agency said in a social media post.

Under Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, it is illegal to sell, buy, possess, or transport wildlife species, their by-products and derivatives without permits. This Act protects both plants and animals, including their skins, scales, bones, and blood.

This law also grants legal protection to non-native exotic species.

“This Act shall also apply to exotic species which are subject to trade, are cultured, maintained and/or bred in captivity or propagated in the country,” the Act states, which means that the advertised white and strawberry tiger or lion cubs are protected by law.

Fines of up to ₱300,000, prison sentences of up to four years, and the confiscation of wildlife and digital assets may be levied on offenders.

Common local wildlife illegally sold online include Visayan Leopard Cats, Philippine Hanging Parrots, and Palawan Hill Mynas. For exotics, it is common to find Ball Pythons, Burmese Pythons, Tarantulas, Indian Ring-necked Parakeets, Bearded Dragons, and Green Iguanas in illicit trade groups.

While it is illegal to buy and possess these animals without proper documents, people looking to care for exotic pets may purchase them from a DENR-accredited breeder or pet shop that will provide legal receipts and captive-breeding documents. They must also secure a Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR) from the department.

If one encounters a suspicious group or activity, they can report it to the DENR, Philippine National Police (PNP), or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

To contact the DENR Wildlife Enforcement directly, go to: https://bmb.gov.ph