Bleeding-Heart Conservations Programme

So the local and international parties together with the EEP and AZA Taxon Advisory Groups (TAGS) intended to assist the implementation of conservation action recommendations for some of the threatened taxa, thus leads to development of the "Bleeding-Heart Conservation Programme".

The genus Gallicolumba is not confined in the Philippines, though bleeding-hearts constitute a distinct subgroup of five species and at least six subspecies restricted to the Philippine biogeographic region. Luzon bleeding-heart (G. luzonica), Mindoro bleeding-heart (G. platenae), Negros bleeding-heart (G. keayi), Sulu bleeding-heart (G. menagei) and Mindanao bleeding-heart (G. criniger) have been distributed to the faunal region of the Philippines. And that all of the five species of bleeding-hearts are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN'S "threatened category" Red List.

One of the species of the bleeding-heart is found on our faunal region, the Sulu bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba menagei)

The Sulu bleeding-heart (G. menagei) is a medium-sized, rather short-tailed pigeon with bright orange patch to otherwise white breast. Dark grey forehead merging into iridiscent green nape and upper mantle. It is restricted to Tawi-tawi and neighbouring islets of Tandubas Group (including Baliungan, Tandubatu and Dundangan; Diesmos and Pedragosa 1995).

Since there are no established Protected Area (PA)  in our faunal region due to political instabilities and other conflicts the conservation program for the said species or actions might be underway. Military activity and insurgency continue to present a serious obstacle to the conservation in Sulu archipelago. A proposal exist to provide conservation funding for the Tawi-tawi/Sulu coastal areas, although neither the outcome nor the likely benefits to the species are known. In 1997, a public awareness campaign focusing on the conservation of terrestrial biodiversity on Tawi-tawi was initiated.

Philippine Biodiversity Documentary

Philippine Marine Biodiversity Documentary

Failon Ngayon - Mining Company in the Philippines

Balabag: A documentary film on illegal mining in Zamboanga del Sur

Sulu Hornbill (Anthracoceros montani) Conservation Program

Sulu Hornbill (Anthracoceros montani), is a blackish hornbill with wholly white tail. Black bill and casque, bare blackish skin around eye and small patches near bill-base. Glossy dark greenish upperparts. Iris cream-coloured in male and dark brown in female. Pale tip to casque-less bill in juvenile, and sometimes whitish-tipped primaries. 

This species is endemic to three islands in the Sulu archipelago in the Philippines. This hornbill faces the possibility of imminent extinction. It has a tiny population probably now confined to just one island. It is likely to be declining very rapidly owing to the continuing loss and degradation of the few remaining forest tracts in its range, and levels of exploitation. For these reasons, it is listed as Critically Endangered.

Conservation Actions Underway

CITES Appendix II. Military activity and insurgency continue to present a serious obstacle to conservation work in the Sulus. There are no formal protected areas in the archipelago. A proposal exists to provide conservation funding for the Tawi-tawi/Sulu Coastal Area, although neither the outcome nor the likely benefits to the species is known. A draft a municipal resolution for the banning of hunting or capture of Tawi-tawi endemics has been developed and was planned to be passed in July 2010 (I. Sarenas in litt.2010). 

Conservation Actions Proposed

Conduct surveys in all remaining forest patches in the Sulus to identify key sites. Urgently establish formal protected areas in the centre-west of Tawi-tawi to conserve populations in the main mountain range. Clarify the proposal for conservation funding for the Tawi-tawi/Sulu Coastal Area. Continue and expand environmental awareness programmes and establish captive-breeding populations for future supplementation/reintroduction. 

References

BirdLife International. 2001. Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Collar, N. J.; Butchart, S. H. M. 2013. Conservation breeding and avian diversity: chances and challenges.International Zoo Yearbook.

Collar, N. J.; Mallari, N. A. D.; Tabaranza, B. R. J. 1999. Threatened birds of the Philippines: the Haribon Foundation/BirdLife International Red Data Book. Bookmark, Makati City.

Diesmos, A. C.; Pedregosa, M. D. G. 1995. The conservation status of threatened species of bleeding-hearts (Columbidae) and hornbills (Bucerotidae) in the Philippines.

Mallari, N.A.D., Tabaranza, B.R. and Crosby, M.J. 2001. Key conservation sites in the Philippines: A Haribon Foundation and BirdLife International directory of Important Bird Areas. Bookmark, Makati City, Philippines.

A blogger's experience in Tawi- tawi "Island of Turtles"

One of the municipalities of Tawi-Tawi is Turtle Islands. It is located within the Sulu Sea and south of Palawan. The Turtle Islands consist of seven (7) Islands-one is Taganak. Taganak is volcanic in origin and considered to be the biggest island among the seven islands. We are so grateful that we were given the chance to see how incredible the place is. In Taganak for instance, the crystal clear water offers you peace of mind and an unutterably word just "WOW". It is just so beautiful that it matched with the beauty of other foreign beaches in the nearby areas. The two (2) photos below were taken recently ( September 6, 2013) . 

How to get to Taganak, Turtle Islands? Taganak is near Sabah, Malaysia with 30-45 mins. ride via motorboat. There is no regular travel schedule to Taganak. However, you can reach Taganak via cargo ships or motor launch from Zamboanga. Motor launch can also be chartered to reach the area.

When we visited the place, we were able to witnessed some green turtles laying eggs. According to the some residents we interviewed, there are only few turtles lay egg in Taganak due to the existence of dogs, sounds and noises coming from residences unlike before. It was funny to describe us hiding in bushes and limiting ourselves from talking because it might scares the female green turtle. When it finally found a good spot to dig nest, it laid eggs after making a hole. Then it covered the hole leaving no trace at all.

The Female green turtle laid more than 50 eggs that time. And accordingly, the turtle can lay egg up to 200 eggs. Wow! It would really look amazing if all these eggs will survive and grow into beautiful turtles.

However, we felt sad that the nature of female turtle after laying eggs, just simply swim back to the water leaving the eggs behind. And it takes 45 days or more for these eggs to hatch. I can just imagine the danger that awaits these eggs when it's not protected.

Once the eggs hatch, they are on their own. The baby turtles or hatchlings race to have a taste of the sea.The experience of watching these hatchlings race to the sea is just "awesome". But the adventure for these hatchlings have just begun. And the real danger awaits them. Sad to say that from more that 50 eggs, only few survive in this phase. Some experts say that 1 in 1000 hatchlings will survive the adulthood- sad reality!

With the blogger's experience, we are moved and amazed with mother nature doing her own way in preserving and also to the local settlers who were responsible enough to let the turtles leave on their own ways, truly it was a majestic experience felt by the blogger in this world of experience.

The Turtle Islands, Tawi-tawi

Typical of low-island flora, the Turtle Islands marine macrobenthic flora (large, bottom-dwelling plants) is characterized by low species diversity. The populations are sparsely distributed on the fringing reef and do not form apparent or distinct communities. According to a 1998 report by Filipino seaweed expert Dr. Gavino Trono, algae (seaweeds) grow among the piles of dead coral branches, on dead portions of coral heads and mixed with seagrasses, which form very thin stands on sandy bottoms near the shore. Of the 62 species found in the area, 27 are members of the Chlorophyta (green algae), 22 are Rhodophyta (red algae) and six Phaeophyta (brown algae). The Turtle Islands' flora represents only a little more than one-third of that found at Santiago Island in Bolinao, Pangasinan, which supports 170 species. The seagrass community at the Turtle Islands is represented mainly by the pioneering species such as the Halophila ovalis, Cymodocea rotundata, Halodule pinifolia, H. uninervis and Syringodium isoetifolium. These species colonize small sandy patches near the shore. Intermixed with the seagrasses are some seaweed populations such asHalimeda macroloba, Udotea geppii and Caulerpa serrulata.

Turtle Island in Tawi-tawi

Turtle Island in Tawi-tawi

The seaweed and seagrass populations of the islands appear to be at their seral stages of development. This is shown by the presence of pioneer and ephemeral or opportunistic species. Almost all species have some known economic value. Only those food species, when developed, are likely to be of immediate economic benefit to the local populations, however. These include Caulerpa racemosa, C. lentillifera, and the Kappaphycus alvarezii. G. acerosais a known agar source, while K. alvarezii is a carrageenan source. These last two species are important raw materials for making gel-like desserts. G. acerosa, in particular, appears to have some commercial applications, but it does not seem to occur in the area abundantly enough for commercial harvest and utilization.

Typical of most disturbed low-lying small island ecosystems, the terrestrial flora of the Turtle Island groups namely Boan, Lihiman, Great Bakkungan, Taganak and Baguan is a mosaic of remnants of sea coast or strand vegetation and ornamental and weed species attendant to agricultural and human settlement areas.

                                                  Turtle Islands' vegetation

The vegetation of the islands is typically of limited growth, development and complexity, which is mainly a function of relatively recent geologic age and, more importantly, anthropogenic influence. Typical beach vegetation forms a narrow strip of woodland along the sandy and gravelly shores of the seacoast, gradually giving way to other types of forest formation depending on topography, size of the island and other factors. The principal woody species that occur in the Philippines in general and the Turtle Islands group in particular are Terminalia catappa, Desmodium umbellatum, Pandanus tectorius, Premna serratifolia, P. obtusifolia, Erythrina variegata, Barringtonia asiatica, Thespesia populnea, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Sterculia ceramica, Callphyllum inophyllum, Guettarda speciosa, Xylocarpus moluccensis, Pongamia pinnata and Scaevola frutescens.

Succession may be in more advanced stages in areas that are less influenced by human activity, such as slopes, enclosed area and the sanctuary, as well as in islands with larger areas. This is shown by the presence of pioneering tree species like Macaranga tanarius.

Agricultural crops, ornamental plants and associated weeds in human settlements comprise 60% of the plant species identified in all the islands. It is common practice for residents to propagate plants introduced from outside the Turtle Islands.Most species are widely distributed and no local endemic species have been observed