9 Endangered Species in The Philippines

Top Nine Endangared Species in the Philippines
1. Philippine Eagle
The Philippine eagle, sometimes known as the monkey-eating eagle, is the country’s
national bird and is one of many endemic species in the Philippines. It has a brown-
and-white feather pattern and a bushy crest, and is thought to be one of the world’s
largest and most powerful birds. Deforestation, mining, and pollution are all major
risks to the Philippine eagle’s survival.
In 1990, the Philippine eagle was added to the red list of critically endangered
wildlife created by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).
There are only a few of these eagles left in the world. For the past 56 years, their
global population has been steadily falling. Various laws have been created to
protect the Philippine eagle, but they have been poorly enforced, resulting in the
eagle’s continuous decline.
Natural parks such as Mt. Apo and Mt. Katinglad have natural reserves and other
protected areas. The captive breeding of these eagles is overseen by the Philippine
Eagle Center in Davao, on the island of Mindanao.
2. Tamaraw
The tamaraw, sometimes known as the dwarf forest buffalo, is an animal found only
in the Philippines, specifically on the island of Mindoro.
During the 1900s, these endemic beasts roamed freely across Mindoro’s wide
expanse, but as man began to develop and populate the island, the tamaraw
population began to fall. When Mindoro was attacked by the rinderpest, or cow
epidemic, in the 1930s, their numbers plummeted.
The tamaraws were also victims of illegal hunting and the animal flesh trade among
Mindoro residents. These indigenous beasts were on the verge of extinction by the
1960s. In 1969, it was thought that less than 100 animals remained, placing the
tamaraw on the IUCN’s critically endangered list.
5,000 hectares of Mount Iglit-Baco, in Mindoro, were turned into a National Park to
provide a safe haven for tamaraws in order to encourage their conservation and
protection. These unique beasts are free to roam and procreate in their native
habitat. After successful conservation efforts, there are around 480 tamaraws in the
wild today.
3. Philippine Crocodile
The IUCN has classified the Philippine freshwater crocodile, or Mindoro crocodile, as
critically endangered. The decline of the Philippine freshwater crocodile has been
attributed to illicit hunting and dynamite fishing.
The Philippine crocodile’s greatest threat is the enormous clearance of rainforests

that serve as the crocodile’s natural home. The woodlands are being cleared to make
way for farming.
Another threat comes from local people, who hunt the crocodiles illegally. Locals
need to be educated about the differences between the small Philippine freshwater
crocodile and the larger saltwater crocodiles that live in the same area. Locals
frequently hunt the smaller, endangered native crocodile species without
recognising the consequences.
4. Walden’s Hornbill
Walden’s Hornbill is native to the Philippine islands of Panay and Negros; there are
also small flocks in Zamboanga del Norte, Mindanao. Excessive hunting and illegal
logging have resulted in the extinction of this species in the Negros and Guimaras
provinces. As a result, it has been added to the IUCN list of critically endangered
species.
5. Net Coral
The number of net corals is in decline. Due to this population trend, it has been
classified as an endangered species by the IUCN.
This variety of coral has been targeted in the aquarium trade, as its appearance
makes it a desirable addition to a tank. In addition to being extracted and used in
aquariums, net corals are also vulnerable to coral bleaching. Net corals are strongly
reactive to the bleaching phenomenon, making them a species that is likely to go
extinct soon.
6. Visayan Warty Pig
The IUCN lists the Visayan Warty Pig as a critically endangered species in the
Philippines. The pig, which was once common throughout the central Philippines, is
now only found on two islands: Panay and Negros. Although it has not been proved,
there may still be a small herd on Masbate island.
Illegal hunting and logging, as well as agricultural land destruction, contributed to

the Visayan Warty Pig’s extinction on Cebu. To meet the region’s increased need for
crops, the animals’ natural habitats were converted into rice fields. This species is
now bred in captivity in small numbers. Although they are extremely rare, some still
exist in the wild, which explains why little is known about the mammal’s natural
habits.
7. Tarsier
These primates are found on the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Mindanao, as
well as a handful of smaller islands like Dinagat and Basilan.
Tarsiers are a tourism mascot in Bohol, but there is little regulation surrounding this
practice. Many tarsiers are exhibited in deplorable conditions at roadside attractions.
Given the difficulty of keeping tarsiers alive in captivity, mortality is high among
these creatures – when they die, replacements are seized from the wild.
Deforestation and increased typhoons due to climate change also pose a threat to
wild tarsiers.
8. Philippine Forest Turtle
The Philippines is home to five of seven sea turtle species in the world. All five of
these species are threatened and listed as endangered.
The Philippine forest turtle, sought by collectors for its uniqueness, continues to face
a major threat from the illicit pet trade. In 2015, a single bust in Palawan uncovered
nearly 4,000 turtles.
9. Negros Bleeding-Heart Pigeon
This pigeon is only found on the islands of Negros and Panay and is on the IUCN’s list
of critically endangered Philippine pigeon species. They are ground feeders – which
means they hunt on the ground and are easy prey for poachers – and always move in
couples or flocks. The Bleeding-Heart population is declining due to continuing
deforestation, excessive hunting, and the illegal exotic pet trade.

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Top Nine Endangared Species in the Philippines

The Philippine crocodile’s greatest threat is the enormous clearance of rainforests

Illegal hunting and logging, as well as agricultural land destruction, contributed to

8. Philippine Forest Turtle

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