Philippine deer
The Philippine deer (Rusa marianna), also known as the Philippine sambar, is a species of deer native to the forests and grasslands on most larger islands of the Philippines,[2]. It is classified as Vulnerable by theIUCN due to its increasingly fragmented populations as a result of habitat loss and hunting.
The Philippine deer was introduced to Guam by the Spanish governorMariano Tobias between 1770 and 1774 as a game species (William Edwin Safford, 1905). Although scarce in its native range in the Philippines, it is overpopulated in many areas of Guam, posing serious threats to plant communities by overgrazing.
It was also introduced to Rota, Saipan, and Pohnpei but those populations did not take hold like they did in Guam.
Visayan Spotted Deer
The Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi), also known as the Philippine Spotted Deer, is a nocturnal and endangered species of deer located primarily in the rainforests of the Visayan islands of Panay and Negrosthough it once roamed other islands such as Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte,Masbate, and Samar. It is one of three endemic deer species in thePhilippines, although it was not recognized as a separate species until 1983. An estimated 2,500 mature individuals survived worldwide as of 1996, according to the IUCN, although it is uncertain of how many of them still survive in the wild. The diet of the deer, which consists of a variety of different types of grasses, leaves, and buds within the forest, is the primary indicator of its habitat. Since 1991, the range of the species has severely decreased and is now almost co-extensive with that of the Visayan warty pig.
In April 2009, a team of British, Filipino, and Irish scientists discovered evidence of two herds, consisting of an estimated 300 animals, surviving on the island of Negros. Conservation efforts are currently underway with the intention of preserving the remaining population of the species.
Visayan Warty Pig
The Visayan warty pig, Sus cebifrons is a critically endangered species of pig. The Visayan warty pig can only be found on two of the Visayan Islands in the central Philippines, and as a result, faces unique challenges to their survival in the wild. The challenges include little room to escape from predators, food shortages and hunting - these are the leading causes of the Visayan warty pig's status as critically endangered. Due to the small numbers of remaining Visayan warty pigs in the wild, little is known of their behaviors or characteristics outside of captivity.
Distribution
The Visayan warty pig is endemic to six islands in the Philippines archipelago. It is now extinct in four of the islands.
Physical Characteristics
The Visayan warty pig receives its name from the three pairs of fleshy "warts" present on the visage of the boar. Biologists speculate that the reason for the warts is to assist as a natural defense against the tusks of rival pigs during a fight. The boars also grow stiff spikey hair.
Habitat and Diet
The Visayan warty pigs tend to live in groups of four to six. The diet of the pig mainly consists of roots, tubers, and fruits that can be found in the forest. They may also eat cultivated crops. Since approximately 95% of their natural habitat has been cleared by local farmers who cut down the forest to plant crops, the propensity of the pigs to eat cultivated crops has risen dramatically. Because the land that is cleared for farming is often unproductive after a few years, the food sources of the Visayan warty pig are extremely limited, a factor that has contributed significantly to the pig’s dwindling numbers.
Reproduction
Visayan warty pig piglets are often seen during the dry season between the months of January and March in their native habitat of the western Visayan Islands. The mean number of piglets is three to four per litter.
Philippine tamaraw
The Tamaraw or Bubalus Mindorensis (also known as Anoa Mindorensis) is a small water buffalo that are grayish in color and has a pair of straight, stout horns. Popularly called as Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo, they are endemic to the Island ofMindoro in the Philippines. These pygmy buffalos are one of the world's rarest animal. Due to the continuous decrease of their population, they are now classified as Critically Endangered species or C1.
Characteristics
Tamaraws are relatively smaller than water buffalos. They have shorter limbs and stocky appearance. They are hairier than the Carabaos (Bubalus Bubalis), which are water buffalos found all over the Philippines. Their skulls are fairly massive, elongated and narrow. They have squarish molars and have long and straight snouts. An adult Tamaraw weighs about 200 to 300 kilograms, is 220 centimeters in length and has an average height between 95 and 120 centimeters. All Bubalus Mindorensis have a pair of straight and pointy horns. Males have longer and thicker horns than those of females. Their small and stocky size equips them to push and graze through thick forests and their short strong limbs enable them to climb through high steep mountains.
Behavior
Tamaraws have now become nocturnal due to constant commotions caused by humans during the day. They feed on open grass and rest on tall shady trees and grasses in a dense jungle. They are solitary species with mother and child as their only lasting association. Bubalus Mindorensis are known for their aggressiveness and fierceness when threatened or cornered.
Habitat
Tamaraws dwells in dense, lowlands with thick grassy planes, marshy areas and shallow rivers. They usually graze and feed only on short grasses such as Cynodon arcuatus, Digitaria sanguinalis, Eleusine indica, Sorghum nitidum, Paspalum scrobiculatum, Alloteropsis semialata, and Vetiveria zizanoides. They also eat young bamboo leaves and shoots.
Reproduction
Females usually gestate from 8 to 10 month which results to one offspring on a rainy season in the Philippines (from June to November). Newborn Tamaraws have reddish brown color and dark brown legs. As they grow, their color gradually change to light brown and slowly darkens again as they become adults (approximately between 3 to 4 years). Females prefer not to be seen by anyone when caring for their offspring. Their juveniles usually stay with their mothers from two to four years.
Distribution
Tamaraws can only be found in Mindoro Island, Philippines. Today, these rare species are distributed in three areas. These are Mount Iglit-Baco National Park, Mount Aruyan/Sablayan, and Mount Calavite Tamaraw Preserve. A confined breeding program was established in Mount Iglit-Baco National Park on 1982. Regrettably, since very few calves were born, the program was not successful.
Conservation
Currently, their status is under the critically endangered species. During the 1900s, Tamaraw population are well under 10,000. However, due to Rinderpest (cattle plague) that rose in the 1930s, their population greatly decreased. They have continuously declined because of cattle hunts, ranchers and settlers initiated by humans. The Philippinegovernment declared a legislation that will protect and conserve all Tamaraws in Mindoro Island, this is also known as the Tamaraw Conservation Program. From 10,000 Tamaraws, there are approximately 273 remaining today.
Philippine Mouse-deer
The Philippine Mouse-deer (Tragulus nigricans), also known as theBalabac Chevrotain or Pilandok (in Filipino), is a small, nocturnal ruminant, which is endemic to Balabac and nearby smaller islands (Bugsuc and Ramos) south-west of Palawan in the Philippines. The genus Tragulusmeans 'little goat' and the Phillipine mouse-deer has been named so due to the horizontal pupils of the eyes. This position of the pupil allows for an increase in peripheral depth perception. It has traditionally been considered a subspecies of the Greater Mouse-deer (T. napu). However, in 2004 T. nigricans was separated from T. napu as its own species due to differences in skull morphology (skull measurements).[3] Contrary to its common name, the Philippine Mouse-deer does not belong to the deer family Cervidae, but is a member of the chevrotain family.
Behavior and Ecology
It is a solitary, nocturnal animal but has on occasion been seen in pairs for short periods of time. The Philipine mouse-deer's main diet consists of feeding on leaves, flowers and other vegetation in the dense forest undergrowth. During the day, it takes shelter in the dense primary and secondary forests and avoids movement. At sundown it will wander into mangroves and more open areas to feed. They have also been spotted along the seashore. It is thought by the natives of the Philippines that the Philippine mouse-deer has a mutual relationship with a species of python; according to them, when the Philippine mouse-deer is hunted by a natural predator or by humans with the aid of dogs, it will hide in a burrow and when the predator comes by the python will eat the predator.
Reproduction
The Philipine mouse-deer can be classified as a r-selected species. This type of organism lives in habitats that can be described as unstable or changing. Those falling under this category will normally reach sexual maturity at a young age. T. nigricans is thought to reach sexual maturity at five months of age. R-selected species also have small body sizes and normally have shorter life spans. The mouse-deer has been estimated to live approximately fourteen years and only produces one offspring per litter. Two offspring can occur but is extremely rare. The gestation time ranges from 140-177 days.
Conservation
The Philippine Mouse-deer is threatened due to a variety of reasons such as poaching and capture for the wild animal trade. Hunting has also caused a great decline in the number of individuals left. The meat is considered a delicacy on the islands and the skin is also used to make leather. Although there aren't any true estimates of the Philipine mouse-deer population to date, they are assumed to be declining in numbers. Hunters have commented that the mouse-deer is becoming harder to find. The biggest reason for decline is habitat loss.[2] The mouse-deer's habitat is being converted to agricultural lands for coconut plantations among other crops. It is fully protected under Philippine law, but enforcement of this protection is mostly ineffective.[2] The Philipines do have what are called priority sites which protect the land. There are currently eighteen priority sites that are funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF)/World Bank and the European Union. Unfortunately, T. nigricans does not occur on any of these sites to benefit from their protection. What is being suggested to help with the survival of this species is more research and better protection of their habitat.
