Flora and Fauna
The Cagayan River passes through one of the few remaining primary forests in the Philippines.
It supports the lives of numerous endemic and endangered species, like the Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon (Gallicolumba luzonica), Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and a rare riverine fish, locally called ludong (Cestreaus plicatilis).
The ludong spawns in Cagayan River's upper reaches in Jones, Isabela. In late October until mid-November, the fish travel down the river to release their eggs at the river mouth near Appari.
In February, ludong fry by the millions are again caught in fine nets as these travel upstream.
Due to the dwindling number of ludong caught yearly, local governments have imposed a ban on catching the fish and its fry, but the ban has failed.
Read more about this topic: Cagayan River
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