The Philippine Crocodile

The Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis), "buwaya" in local term is another endemic freshwater crocodile in the Philippines which is considered in IUCN as critically endangered species. Crocodylus mindorensis derived its name from Mindoro Island. Recently it is found that Philippine crocodile is a subspecies of the New Guinea Crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguinae). Before, this kind of crocodile is found throughout the Philippines but due to exploitation and destruction of habitat an estimated of less than 100 non-hatchling are surviving in the wild. Today there are still surviving  population in the Northern Sierra Madre National Park, San Mariano, Isabela, Dalupiri Island, Babuyan Islands, Abra Province and Ligawasan Marsh in Mindanao.

The Philippine Crocodile lives in freshwater like marshes, ponds, lakes, and rivers. They relatively small species of crocodile which grows not more than 3 meters and the female is relatively smaller. They have broad snout and thick bony plates (dorsal armor) on their back and they have golden-brown in color which darkens as it matures. The number of teeth range from 66 to 68. They feed on aquatic invertebrates and small vertebrates. During breeding they build a small nest 50cm tall and 150cm wide, female lay 7-20 eggs which will be hatch approximately after 85 days.

In 2007, the Crocodile Conservation Society Philippines was founded by a specialist group involved in conservation of crocodiles. This group is working for captive breeding and release programs in conjunction with the Zoological Institute of Herpaworld in Mindoro, the Palawan Rescue and Conservation Centre, Siliman University and the Dutch/Filipino Mabuwaya foundation.

In 2009, 50 captive bred Philippine crocodiles were released in the wild in Dicatian Lake, Divilacan, Isabela Province. They are bred in PWRCC (Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center) of the DENR. The Mabuwaya Foundation in Isabela implemented the conservation program with funding from UK-registered Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation. Ten of the crocodiles released in the wild with radio transmitters basis of study.

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Small Philippine Crocodile

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Juvenile Philippine Crocodile

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Closer look of Crocodylus Mindorensis

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Matured Philippine Crocodile with open mouth

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Full grown Philippine Crocodile

Philippine Crocodile in swamp

Philippine Crocodile lying on ground

Dorsal profile on the back of  Philippine crocodile 

Young Philippine crocodile

Visayan Spotted Deer

The Visayan Spotted Deer (Cervus alfredi), also known as Philippine Spotted Deer, is categorized as endangered species of deer by IUCN. This kind of deer is nocturnal and can be found mostly in the rain forest of the Visayan Islands of Panay and Negros. The deer is vegetarian feeding on grasses, leaves, and buds. The decreased of its population in Visayan Islands is attributed to hunting and forest degradation

The Visayan Spotted Deer is a small, short legged species of deer, for adults size range from 125 to 130 cm long , 70 to 80cm height and weighing 25 to 80 kg. They have beige spots on their brown fur, more deep brown on back and sides compare to the neck. Males are larger than females and have short, thick, bumpy antlers. They breed from November to December, gestation period is about 240 days and weaning period is about six months.

At present, this endangered species of deer are found in protected habitats of Mt. Canlaon National Park, North Negros Forest Reserve, Mount Talinis/Lake Balinsasayao Reserve and West Panay Mountains. Some conservation program was also held locally and  in Europian Zoos such as NFEFI (Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation Inc.) and CENTROP (Center for Tropical Studies), and successfully breeds this species of deer in captive.

Later on April 18, 2009, a group of Filipinos, British and Irishman discovered an estimated of 300 Visayan Spotted Deer in North Negros National Park.

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captive breeding of Philippine spotted deer in NFEFI

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young Philippine spotted deer eating fesh leaves

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First Philippine Spotted Deer born in captive breeding in NFEFI

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close-up shot of young male Philippine spotted deer in NFEFI

female Phiippine Spotted Deer

female Philippine spotted deer on captive

full-grown male Philippine spotted deer eating leaves

Philippine spotted deer

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female Philippine spotted deer on captive

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group of Philippine spotted deer eating their meals

The Red-vented Cockatoo of the Philippines

The Red-vented Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), locally known as Philippine cockatoo, Kalangay or Katala, is endemic species of cockatoo in the Philippines. This bird belongs to the family same with true parrots. Red-vented cockatoo is one of the rarest and classified as critically endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) due to illegal pet trade and destruction of habitat and direct persecution.

The plumage of red-vented cockatoo is all white with red undertail coverts tipped white and has yellowish undertail and pale yellow underwings. This bird grows at 12.2 inches long and has 8.6 inches wingspan. It makes bleating call and screeching or whistling noises. In captive environment, red-vented cockatoos has the ability to mimic voices and sounds same as parrots. They are social birds which are always found in flocks except in mating season from March to July. They feed on seeds, fruits, flowers, buds and nectar and also crops like rice and corns that why they are regarded sometimes as pest.

The remnants of red-vented cockatoos are distributed in Palawan, Tawi-tawi, Mindanao and Masbate with less than 1,000 in populations. Before it is found in almost any part of the Philippine islands except Northern and Central Luzon. Since 1998, Katala Foundation has been involves in the protection and conservation of this species of birds.

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Red-vented Cockatoo

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Red-Vented Cockatoo

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Red-Vented Cockatoo

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Red-Vented Cockatoo

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Red-Vented Cockatoo

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Red-Vented Coackatoo

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Philippine Cockatoo

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Young Philippine Cockatoos

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Flocks of Philippine cockatoos in the trees at Rasa Island

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Group of Philippine cockatoos flying

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Poster of Philippine Cockatoo from Katala Foundation