New research station
in the Philippines to save critically endangered species
Conservationists
from Bristol Zoological Society have established a new research station deep in
the forest on Negros Island in the Philippines.
The new facility
will allow experts to carry out in-depth studies of endangered animals living
in remote and previously inaccessible areas of the forest.
Bristol Zoological
Society has been working on Negros Island in the Philippines since 2014,
predominantly striving to protect the Critically Endangered Negros bleeding
heart dove. It is feared there are now less than 400 pairs of Negros bleeding
heart doves left in the wild.
The Philippines is
home to more than 20,000 endemic species of plants and animals. However, 95 per
cent of the country’s forests have already been cut down, mainly to grow crops.
Bristol Zoo is working to protect a host of endangered species and the habitats
they live in and carries out vital research into the animals that live there.
A short video is available to download here: https://we.tl/hc7eiyRJO6
The Zoo’s
Philippines conservation project is led by Dr Daphne Kerhoas, a lecturer in
conservation science at Bristol Zoo and Nigel Simpson, head of operations at
Wild Place Project.
Dr Kerhoas explains
the significance of the new field station: “The new research station will be
vital for enabling our conservationists to carry out studies on local wildlife,
deep in the forest, allowing them to camp there for longer periods of time and
carry out much more extensive research than ever before.”
The new camp
includes a bamboo cabin as sleeping accommodation, a basic kitchen, toilets,
and a shower fed by a nearby waterfall.
Dr Kerhoas added:
“This is a significant development for our work in the Philippines and we hope
to be able to build a much better picture of the richness of the biodiversity
of the forest. Our presence there will also have a positive impact in terms of discouraging
illegal activities such as hunting and deforestation in the area as well as
generating additional income for local people.”
It also means
researchers will be able to devote more time and resources to studying other
endangered animals in the forests, such as Visayan warty pigs, Rufous-headed
hornbills, Visayan tarictic hornbills and Philippine spotted deer.
Bristol Zoological
Society is collaborating with, and funding, an organisation called PENAGMANNAKI
which works on their behalf in the area. The team work alongside local farmers
to promote the sustainable development of the area by developing livelihoods
that don’t rely on the forests, and to find common solutions to reduce the
impact of deforestation.
Earlier this year,
conservationists from Bristol Zoo captured remarkable footage of Visayan warty
pigs and Visayan leopard cats roaming the forests of southern Negros. The
videos were captured on camera traps. It was the first time warty pigs had been
caught on camera in this region.
Bristol Zoo Gardens
is a conservation and education charity and relies on the generous support of
the public not only to fund its important work in the Zoo, but also its vital
conservation and research projects spanning five continents.
For more information
about Bristol Zoological Society’s work in the Philippines, visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk/save-wildlife/conservation-and-research/philippines.
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant        |
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