The Butaan ( Varanus olivaceus )

1. The Butaan(Varanusolivaceus) Xavier Escano

2. Description The butaan is the largest true tree monitor in the world it lives in only one small island known as pollilio It can grow to up to a length of about 7 feet It is one of the two only known fruit eating monitors in the world It feeds almost exclusively on the fruit of panadanas palm trees It is very reclusive and extremely shy Not much is known about it since it has been very difficult to gather data on

3. Some history The butaan was first discovered in 1845 by an american biologist who brought a small preserved specimen and a skull Then for almost 120 years no specimens were found and it was assumed extinct It was then rediscovered in 1970 when a specimen was found in the collection of walter auffenberg in the american museum of natural history The butaan was also featured in animal planet “Mutual of Omaha’s WILD KINGDOM butaan: the lost dragon”.

4. Threat The butaan like most monitors and practically any non poisonous creature is hunted and eaten by the natives of its island home Pollilio. About 95% of its habitat has been lost to farm land and only about 1 square mile, their large size and specialized feeding habits make them more susceptible to forest fragmentation and degradation. A lot of people dont even know such a creature exists which makes getting funding for its protection really difficult unlike its close cousin the komodo dragon

5. Conservation There is the butaan project which is hosted by mampam conservation. Research teams have come up with different ways of studying the species by examining its excrement rather then killing the animal. Hidden cameras and line traps are mainly used to observe and track these rare reptiles. Several zoos have also made the effort of breeding butaan such as paradise reptile zoo found in mindoro. Noted researcher by the name of daniel bennette has spent seven years researching the butaan and teaching the natives about conservation and its importance. His latest book “little book of monitor lizards II” contains his many findings on the butaan.

6. Dugon dugong (Sea Cow) Leah Pascua

7. Description Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: MammaliaOrder: SireniaFamily: Dugongidae The dugong's body is large and fusiform, with thick, smooth skin that is a pale cream color at birth but darkens dorsally and laterally to a brownish to dark gray with age It is is sparsely covered in short hair, a common feature among sirenians which may allow for ttactileinterpretation of their environment. The dugong has paddle-like forelimbs which aid in movement and feeding, while its fluked tail provides locomotion through vertical movement.

8. Background The Philippines is one of the 43 countries in the Indopacific where dugongs can be found Dugongs used to abound throughout the Philippine Archipelago but its popultaion is declining very rapidly because most are killed by hunters As of 1997, only places such as: Palawan, Romblon, Guimaras and Pujada Bay Davao Oriental have confirmed species of the dugong

9. Conservation Efforts DENR issued Administrative Order No. 55 Series of 1991 which made the dugong the first marine mammal to ever be protected along Philippine Water -It prohibits hunting, killing, wounding of dugongs whether dead or alive IUCN has listed the dugong as vulnerable to extinvtion on a global scale becase three dugong generations have declined by 20%. -”In just 15 years there may no longer be dugong in Palawan”

10. Conservation Efforts Increase in funding of the Dugong research and preservation by the WWF- DRCP (Dugong Research Conservation Project) Why? -The dugong is a key indicator species, a decline indicates a degrading coastal environment which is home for nurseries and other fish. -”It is not just about saving the dugongs. It’s about ensuring food security as well.”

11. Sadly… In December 14, 2001, a 300kg male dugong was found dead in Hinatun Bay near the Municipal Fish Sanctuary. The dugong had fish net maekings all over and scars on its dorsal surface due to stab wounds. It also appeared bloated indicating signs of poisoning due to dynamites

13. Philippine Hornbill Cara Chuidian

14. Philippine Hornbill The Philippine Hornbill, also known as the Rufous Hornbill, is a large species of hornbill endemic to the Philippines and is one of the 9 species of hornbill found only in the Philippines. It is still common in the Sierra Madre of Luzon yet its habitat is being threatened by extensive logging and rampant hunting of the bird has placed this species under the ‘Red List’.

15. What is being done? A new 'Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)', formally signifying the establishment of a 'Philippines Hornbills Conservation Programme (PHCP)‘ signed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR, Govt. of the Philippines), Vogelpark Avifauna (VA, Netherlands) and the North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo, U. K). It has taken sometime to

16. What is being done? The recognition of the Pogramme also allowed the development of a range of interrelated conservation activities, many of which had been initiated several years earlier. The activites include: field status surveys - e.g. southern Luzon and offshore islands, Mindoro, West Visayas (Negros, Panay, Masbate and Ticao), and the Sulu Islands; habitat protection and restoration - i.e. local community forest wardening schemes, assisting relevant local agencies (GOs and NGOs) in advocacy and development of management plans for development of protected areas, development of mixed native species tree nurseries, etc.

17. What is being done? development of properly structured conservation breeding and research programmes Production and distribution of public awareness/education materials - e.g. 'Only in the Philippines....' and other posters, leaflets, teaching briefs, etc. Organization of local biodiversity conservation workshops and teacher's training programmes personnel training - both locally (field research and captive management) and internationally (captive management and biodiversity conservation theory and practice).

18. What is being done? Collaborators: University of the Philippines in Los Banos (UPLB), West Visayas State University (WVSU), Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation (NFEFI), SU-Center for Studies in Tropical Conservation (CenTrop, Silliman University) Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (CBCF).

19. Successful Projects of PESCP(Phil. Endemic Species Conservation Proj.) Campaigns in 2002 and 2003 A wildlife conservation and education project in the northern Central Panay Mountain Range, funded by ‘GEO Protects the Rainforest’ and executed by the PESCP, during the first half of 2003 focused on hornbill nest hole protection and monitoring Hornbill nest hole monitoring and protection in 2003 included another 11 rare species and proved to be very successful, with a clear increase of the number of recorded successful nest holes,  -i.e. fledging at least one young (100% increase in the Dulungan and even 500 % in the Tarictic). The poaching rate was brought down from a staggering 50 % to less than 5 % within two years. Community Conservationists patrol the forests near their barangays and, in cooperation with PESCP´s forest rangers, gather data on endangered species and monitor illegal activities like logging and wildlife trade

20. Successful Projects of PESCP(Phil. Endemic Species Conservation Proj.) Successful hornbill release (1998 - 2005) A Visayan Tarictic male (Penelopides panini panini), confiscated as a fledgling and reared and trained by PESCP staff, was gradually subjected to a 'soft release' and bonded up with a wild flock while gradually becoming independent of the food offered. This was the first of any hornbill releases. Until early 2005, 22 Tarictic Hornbills could be successfully released, equipped with transmitters for monitoring the success. The experience from these releases can help prepare the release of rehabilitated birds of an  even more threatened species, the Writhed-billed Hornbill or Dulungan, in the future.

21. Successful Projects of PESCP(Phil. Endemic Species Conservation Proj.) Enhancing breeding success of endangered hornbills artificial hornbill nest boxes were developed and mounted. To slow rotting, the rather heavy nest boxes are made out of mahogany, a hardwood timber not native to the Philippines. By using wood of this locally grown alien tree species, regeneration of native hardwood tree species is indirectly supported. One of the two hornbill species at stake has already nested several times in boxes thus hung up by PESCP.

22. Thank you! 

23. The Celestial Monarch (Hypothymiscoelestis) Aya Santos

24. Profile Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: AvesOrder: PasseriformesFamily: Monoarchidae 18 cm. Slim, electric-blue, canopy-dwelling flycatcher. Entire plumage dark vivid sky-blue, washed lilac on cheeks and throat. Duller grey-blue on belly. Narrow yellowish eye-ring. Elongated, paler electric-blue crown feathers form droopy crest which usually lies flat, only raised when excited. Female similar although slightly duller. Voice: distinctive, fast, high pitched tee-tee-tee and typical rasping alarm call.

25. Profile Widespread endemic of the Philippines Recorded from the islands of Luzon, Negros, Sibuyan, Samar, Dinagat, Mindanao, Basilan, Mantibuan and Tawitawi May now be extinct in Basilan, Sibuyan and Negros Habitat and ecology: canopy and middle storeys of lowland forest. Postulated to be a riverine specialist, particularly in areas with a marked dry season

26. Status Red list category: Vulnerable as of 2008 Justification: declining rapidly as a consequence of widespread and continuing reductions in the extent and quality of lowland forest. This is causing fragmentation of its presumably small population, qualifying it as vulnerable. Population trend: decreasing Threats: widespread, continuing deforestation particularly in the lowlands -- logging concessions or consideration for mining applications, road development plans, illegal logging

27. Conservation Actions Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (Palanan Complex) Eastern Isabela province undisturbed lowland dipterocarp rainforest • includes areas where undisturbed forest extends from the coast to the mountain peaks

28. Threats: some illegal logging surveillance, apprehension, and confiscation by the DENR CENRO office and the military authorities DENR CENRO has insufficient manpower, equipment, and will power to be completely effective agricultural development hunting and gathering of non-timber forest products two further sites proposed for conservation funding on Tawitawi and Dinagat

29. Sources http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2842215758_fe56cf5b5c.jpg http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=6060&m=0 http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/146938/0 http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/picpages/pic145-14-1.html http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SitHTMDetails.asp&sid=9715&m=0 http://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/images/Confor34.jpg

30. Waling waling Vanda sanderiana Paul Joson

31. Profile Discovered in the late 1800s by a German explorer. (Carl Roebellin) Usually found in elevated land, though not above 500m. Grows on the trunks of Dipterocarps.

33. Dangers The flower is highly-sought by orchid collectors. Thus, over-collection is rampant. Habitat destruction (Dipterocarp forests)

34. Conservation Haribon foundation’s efforts to conserve forests directly affects the survival of V. Sanderiana The government’s Republic Act 3983 which protects plants from poaching Embryo propagation started in 1985 by Charita Puentespina, an orchid breeder.

35. References http://www.davaocity.gov.ph/about/titles.htm http://www.bansalan.com/henry/waling-waling.htm http://malagos.com/resort-attractions/waling-waling-forest/ http://eesp.0catch.com/waling2.htm