The quiet slopes of Mount Pulag, the Philippines’ third-highest peak, have become the unlikely stage for a passionate online debate — not over policy or politics, but a cat.

Pugal, a stray feline who had become a familiar and beloved figure among hikers, was removed from the mountain by environmental authorities, sparking an emotional outcry that has exposed a deeper clash between conservation ethics and animal welfare ideals.

For months, photos of Pugal snuggling with campers, lounging by tents, and trotting along the trails charmed the internet. The cat, believed to be feral, had carved out a niche on the misty mountain, often seen accompanying trekkers through the protected Mount Pulag National Park in northern Luzon. But as Pugal’s popularity grew, so did concern among environmentalists.

Last Sunday, May 18, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) confirmed that Pugal had been removed from the summit. “Pugal is now being taken care of by one of our Pulag Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) staff,” the agency posted on Facebook. “A veterinarian is being sent to check on the cat.”

Dr. Mennie Alicap, a DENR vet, later declared Pugal in excellent health and confirmed that the animal is now living with a forest ranger in Bokod, Benguet — one of the mountain’s foothill communities.

The move came shortly after The Cordillera Sun, a local media outlet, warned that Pugal was an “invasive predator” in a delicate ecosystem. “Is it cute and adorable? Yes,” the outlet wrote. “But it’s also an unwanted predator… that hunts down native and endemic wildlife.”

Environmental advocates backed the removal. “Most people only see cuteness, oblivious to the fact that free-roaming cats are a serious threat to our native and endemic birds, small mammals, reptiles, and other wildlife,” said Edgar Allan Yap, a travel writer and conservation advocate.

But many netizens saw the move as misguided. “Pugal is just one cat. A harmless cat,” Facebook user Sheila Moro Recapente wrote. “It hurts seeing that they need to remove him from the summit just because he’s a so-called threat! The real ones that destroy our nature are its people.”

Others pointed to mining, tourism, and deforestation as far more disruptive forces. “This isn’t the cat’s fault,” commented agricultural engineer John Henry Tenorio. “It’s a result of human actions. Instead of targeting the animal, let’s focus on education and humane, practical solutions that support both wildlife and domestic animals.”

Heidi Marquez-Caguioa of the Animal Kingdom Foundation acknowledged the emotional attachment many have to animals like Pugal, but stressed ecological facts: “Cats have a natural instinct and ability to hunt native species and wildlife, including those at Mount Pulag,” she said, adding that even one cat can impact small populations of birds, rodents, and reptiles in a protected environment.

Meanwhile, the DENR said Pugal will remain in the care of a forest ranger in Bokod and will receive regular veterinary monitoring.

“I hope Pugal finds a loving home,” Tenorio remarked.

While no new policies have been announced, the agency reiterated that domestic and feral animals are not allowed within the Mount Pulag Protected Landscape, a rule reinforced as of October 18, 2024. “The presence of domesticated animals can disrupt the natural behavior of wildlife and may pose risks to both the animals and the environment,” the DENR said in a statement.

Mount Pulag, a designated protected area, is home to several endemic species and serves as a key watershed. The DENR urged hikers and tour organizers to comply with park regulations aimed at safeguarding the mountain’s biodiversity.