2. According to Conservation
International, the Philippines is one
of the biologically richest countries
in the world. Most of the Philippine
islands are covered with rainforests,
but cutting down trees at the
extreme level or disturbing the
natural habitats of native species
leave many species threatened or
endangered.
4. Philippine Eagle
โข Scientific Name: Pithecophaga jefferyi
โข also referred to as monkey-eatingeagle, is an eagle subspecies that
belongto the familyof Accipitridae and is native to the Philippines.
โข These eagles display white-colored plumage together withthe shaggy
crest. They average 86 to 102 cmin lengthand weigharound 4.7 to
8kg.
โข The Philippine Eagleis the largest eagle, and regardedas the rarest
and themost powerful birds in the world. The Philippine Eagle is also
the national birdof Philippines. One of the foremost causes of the
population decline is habitat loss or deforestation.
6. Hawksbill SeaTurtle
โข These smaller species of turtle are listed as critically endangered.
Growing only up to 45 inches, they can be found in tropical waters,
preferring shallow reef areas where sandy nesting sites are nearby, and
their preferred food, sponges, can be found.
โข Featuring claws on their flippers, a pointed mouth resembling a birds
beak (hence hawksbill), and striking colored shells, these turtles are
often poached for their eggs, flesh, and shells.
โข Living in shallowwaters also makes them victims of fishing nets. Apart
from their cultural significance and tourism value, Hawksbill turtles
play an important role in maintaining reef health through eating
sponges, thus providing better access for reef fish to feed
8. Philippine Freshwater Crocodile
โข ScientificName: Crocodylus mindorensis
โข Also calledMindoro Crocodile, is a subspecies of crocodiles
that inhabits all throughout the Philippines.
โข These crocodiles are consideredto be critically endangered
species due to unsustainable fishing. They have wide and
thick bony plates. They can grow to a length of 1.5 meters (4.9
feet), andweigh around15 kg (33 lb.). The males are fairly
larger than females.
10. Tamaraw
โข Scientific Name: Bubalus mindorensis
โข also known as the Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo, is a small mammal
that belongs to the familyof Bovidae.
โข These animals are native to the Mindoro Island. They are found
at a level of 2,000meters above sea level. Tamaraws are
critically endangered species as they have been subject to
extreme hunting, habitat loss, and logging. The population of
these species are now limited to few grassy plains
12. Philippine Tarsier
โข The Philippine Tarsier (Carlito syrichta) is an
endangered species that is endemic to the
Philippines. These animals are found in the
southeastern region of archipelago, inhabiting the
islands of Leyte, Bohol,Samar, and Mindanao.
Some of these species are known to reside in
Siargao Island, Dinagat Island, and Maripipi Island.
The length of the Philippine tarsier measures
around 118 to 149 mm, with weight measuring at
113 to 142 grams.
14. THE MINDOROBLEEDING-HEART
โข Scientific Name: Gallicolumbaplatenae
Common Name: Kulo-kulo
Habitat: Mt. Siburan, Mindoro
โข Its heart must be bleeding saddened by its fate.
โข Another species that is fighting for its very existence is the
Mindoro Bleeding-heart, a type of ground dove with the
unmistakable red markings on its chest. The sad reality is
most, of its natural habitat has been cleared as majority, if not
all, of the primary forests of Mindoro have been cleared.
16. COCKATOOโข Scientific Name: Cacatuahaematuropygia
Common Name: Katala, Kalangay
Habitat: Palawan, only about 180 left
โข You can never mistake this 12 inch-long cockatoo made up of
just two colors: white and red. Like a priest out to say Holy
Massthis bird is all-white with red feathers around the vent.
โข Perhaps because of its strikingly-clean personality, the red-
vented has become a victimof the cage-bird trade with a bird
fetching as much as $160 in Manila. And that was in the late
90โs.
18. PHILIPPINE FORESTTURTLE
โข Scientific Name: Siebenrockiellaleytensis
Common Name: Palawan turtle
Habitat: Palawan
โข This turtle may have gotten a misnomeras it is totally not endemic to the
island of Leyte but only in the Palawan island group.
โข You can easily distinguishthisland turtle by its ginkgo-shaped vertebral
scutes (at its back). Also, a line which is colored pale white to yellow
traversesacross its head behind the ears.
โข They are prized as petsand ranks as one of the most commonly
confiscatedspecies in the Philippineswithoverseas buyers visitingthe
islands to collect them. However, sadly, the Philippine forest turtle do not
do well in captivity making them avery vulnerable species.
20. PHILIPPINENAKED-BACKED FRUIT BAT
โข Scientific Name: Dobsoniachapmani
Common Name: kwaknit
Habitat: Cebu, NegrosIsland (very small numbers)
โข Size is not everything. Beingthe largest cave-dwellingbat in the whole
archipelago measuring up to 220min total lengthis no protection.
Instead, the Philippine naked-backed fruit bat has attracted bad men,
beinghunted for its meat.
โข However by some twist of fate, thismegabat specie known for its naked
appearance due to the wingsattachment on the midline of their back,
made an amazing recovery. Reported to be extinct in 1970โs, the night-
flier known to veryequippedat biting through hard-skinned fruits
making themextremely unpopularto farmers, were rediscovered, though
in small numbers by the 2000โs.
โข Fortunately, Cebu forestswhere this bat is endemic to is protected by law.
Negros may do well to followsuit.
22. HORNBILLโข Scientific Name: Aceroswaldeni
Common Name: Kalaw
Habitat: Panay, some part of Zamboanga del Norte, extinct in
Guimaras
โข This bird witha lot of weight on its horn, is found only in the
Philippines. Yes, youโre right. No other country has this mighty
specie.
โข That fact alone shouldmake us proud. Had it stayed that way. The
thing is the Kalawor rufous-headed is in an extremely rapid
population decline or in plainEnglish their numbers are dying. Itโs a
shame that we canโt take care of sucha wonderful birdtreasure.
24. VISAYAN WARTY PIG
โข Scientific Name: Suscebifrons
Common Name: Cebuwarty pig, Negros warty pig
Habitat: Cebu, Panay, Negros Island
โข Itโs no secret Filipino love to eat pork. One of the major reason why
this wild pig known for the 3 pairs of wart in its appearance has
become so rare.
โข And to confound things up, the pig has as a subspecies the Cebu
warty pig. Seems things are looking bleak for the boaras Cebuis the
unofficial lechon capital of the Philippines.
โข Luckily, breeding programs for the specie are being undertaken in
RotterdamZoo and San Diego Zoo.
26. Philippine Mouse Deer
โข Scientific Name: Tragulus nigricans
โข Also known as Pilandok
โข Classified by International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) as endangered, these are also endemic to the islands
of Palawanand Balacbac. They are usually the subject of local
folklore, but are mostly hunted for their meat.
28. Sea Cow
โข Scientific Name: Dugong dugon
โข Also known as Dugong
โข The dugong is commonlyfound in the tropical waters of the
Philippines, Indian Ocean, and WesternPacific Ocean. It is
classified as vulnerable by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
30. Whale Shark
โข Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus
โข Also known as Butanding
โข The whale shark is one of the world's endangered species and
can be found in almost all tropical waters around the globe. In
the Philippines it is called butanding and is listed vulnerable
by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
