Philippine Wildlife: Endemic and Endangered Species in the Philippines

The Philippines’ tourism assets always have something to do with Mother Nature’s gifts. On this blog, we highlight the Philippine wildlife.

Vibrant marine life | Photo by: Richard Whitcombe  | Shutter stock photo ID: 1501390199

Aside from breathtaking natural attractions, the Philippines is also a host to numerous unique species of plants and Philippine wildlife. In fact, the country houses an estimated total of 53,000 described species – 15,000 plant species and 38,000 animal species. More than half of these are endemic and hence, cannot be found anywhere else in the world. | Source: Biodiversity Management Bureau

Indeed, Mother Nature must certainly love the Philippines, she gifted us with so much abundance.

Philippine WIldlife Biodiversity

In case you didn’t know, here are some facts and figures to highlight how incredibly gifted the Philippines is:

• According to Conservation International, the Philippines is one of the megadiverse countries in the world, a host to over two-thirds of Earth’s biodiversity and between 70%-80% of the world’s plant and animal species. The main criterion to belong on this list is endemism – a country must have at least 5,000 species of endemic plants and must border marine ecosystems. 

• The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) enlisted the Philippines as part of the Coral Triangle. The Coral Triangle is the planet’s richest centre of marine life and coral diversity, with over 6,000 species of fish, 76% of the world’s coral species, and an awe-inspiring array of wildlife.

• The country ranks 3rd in terms of marine biodiversity. It hosts almost 10,000 marine species which is equivalent to nearly one-fifth of the world’s marine species. It has 1,700 reef species and at least 3,214 fish species (121 are endemic). –Biodiversity Management Bureau

• Based on the data of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Philippines has an estimated 207 terrestrial mammals (133 are endemic), 691 birds (239 endemic), 419 reptiles (241 endemic) and 120 amphibians (98 endemic). This makes the Philippines to be a center for animal diversity with an estimated total of 1, 437 terrestrial wildlife and almost 49% of these are endemic.

• The country ranks 4th in bird endemism. Read more about Birdwatching in the Philippines here.

• We also rank 5th in the number of plant species and maintain 5% of the world’s flora.

• The Philippines is also part of the center of diversity of rice, coconut, mung bean, taro and yam, as well as the center of origin and diversity of bananas in Southeast Asia –Convention on Biological DIversity

Well with all these, what can we say?

The Philippines realistically harbors more biodiversity than any other country in the world. And quite often, many of us don’t realize nor value it.

Extinct and Endemic Animals in the Philippines

Here is a list of endemic animal species that are especially found in the Philippines.

Get to know some of the most unique animal species in the world, their peculiar traits and where to find them. We also included suggested places that offer sustainable wildlife encounters as opposed to mass tourism.

Quite frankly, many of those that are enlisted here are already extinct. Sadly, humans greatly contribute to the abrupt extinction of Philippine wildlife. May we realize their irreplaceable value before these species are entirely wiped out on this planet.

May we become better stewards and protectors of the Earth. May we also become responsible travelers. Support only tourism operators and activities that do not undermine their existence but rather complements and respect them.

Most of the inputs and photos here were derived from previous travels and shared information by local guides, and some, from reliable online sources such as animaldiversity.org and WWF.

Tarsier

Philippine Tarsier, the world’s smallest primate  | Photo by: Edwin Verin  | Shutter stock photo ID: 59951983

Philippine Tarsier Scientific Name: Carlito Syrichta

Interesting Facts About this Philippine Wildlife – the Tarsier:

• Tarsier is dubbed as the world’s smallest primate. They are about the size of an adult fist or closed palm, approximately 85 to 160 mm
• The “tarsals” (or ankle bones) of tarsiers are particularly long, and this actually  is how the group got its name. Their legs are strong, and they are capable of jumping distances 40 times the length of their body or up to twenty feet.
• Philippine tarsier has a brownish-grayish color while some have reddish-brown hair. Their color varies depending upon the region they inhabit. They are found in the rainforests of the Philippines, including  Bohol, Samar, Leyte and some parts of Mindanao.
• Tarsier eyes are big and brown. In fact, their eyes are larger than their brain. Their eyes are acute and they also have excellent hearing, thus making them successful nocturnal hunters. Their eyes are immobile due to their large size, but this is compensated for by the ability to rotate the head 180 degrees.

• Tarsiers inhabit trees and are nocturnal. They spend the day hiding in dense vegetation and sleeping in trees. At night they emerge to move about and hunt for prey.
• Philippine tarsiers are primarily insectivorous. They eat insects, spiders, lizards, and in some cases, small vertebrate animals such as birds.
• The majority of tarsiers are monogamous.
• Recent research shows that the breeding season of tarsiers is defined by the availability of insects, and are mostly in the months of October to January.
• Female tarsiers carry the offspring in the uterus for approximately 6 months. They only give birth to one offspring at a time. Their babies are born fully furred and with its eyes open. Newborns are able to climb at just one day of age while independence occurs after 4 to 10 weeks of weaning or until the offspring are capable of hunting on their own
• Tarsiers are extremely territorial and engage in disputes with neighboring groups that venture into their boundaries. They mark their territories with urine and glandular secretions. They have high site fidelity, remaining at the same sleeping site for multiple years, usually with a mate. Females often establish a territory adjacent to their parental territory, while males disperse twice as far as females.
• They are fragile tiny creatures that have a suicidal tendency. If they are traumatized or stressed, they kill themselves. They do that by starving themselves to death, by beating their heads to a surface or pushing their head out of a cage. Noise, taking them out of their native habitat, disturbing their sleep, use of flash photography, poking or touching them, are some factors that cause stress or trauma to them.  

Conservation Status: Threatened and Endangered | Source: animaldiversity.org

Tarsier Sanctuary

Bohol, Philippines has several tarsier sanctuaries or conservation areas that shelter these adorable primates and allow restricted tourism activities.

Before allowing entry, a brief orientation is conducted to educate the tourists on the do’s and don’ts. Strict compliance with the viewing rules must be observed to mitigate the disruption of the wildlife. Visitors are divided into small groups and are accompanied by 1 to 2 local guides who act as the learning facilitators and security. They are there to safeguard the well-being of the tarsiers, making sure that no tourists harm or disturb them.

The friendly & informative on-site guides at Bohol Tarsier Sanctuary

A photo of tarsier on his typical place and position

Whaleshark (locally known as “Butanding”)

The “gentle giant” locally known as Butanding at Donsol, Sorsogon | Photo by: Happy Auer  | Shutter stock photo ID: 1124183885

Whaleshark Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus

Interesting Facts About this Philippine Wildlife – the Whaleshark or Butanding:

• Whale shark size: They are considered the largest fish in the world, which can grow up to 20 meters and weigh 40 to 60 tons.
• They are also called “gentle giants” and are known for being slow swimmers – their speed is averaging at only 3.9 km per hour. Whale sharks spend most of the day near the surface and dive during dark hours.
• Whale sharks are a highly migratory species, mostly found in the world’s tropical seas, including the Philippines. They are usually in coastal zones with high food productivity. It is believed that their migratory movements might be strongly related to the location’s productivity, which is frequently associated with schools of pelagic fish that are possibly searching for the same prey.
• Whale sharks are known to prey on a range of planktonic and small nektonic organisms. These include krill, crab larvae, jellyfish, sardines, anchovies, mackerels, small tunas, and squid. They open their big mouth to catch food.
• Whale shark pattern: Whale shark has distinct markings and patterns that resemble a checkerboard, composed of light spots and stripes over a dark body, creating a disruptive coloration pattern. 
• Whale shark color: Color can range from different shades of grey, blue or brown, with typical pelagic countershading. Coloration remains the same over the shark’s lifespan, making it an ideal character for photo identification of individuals.
• Whale shark skin: A whale shark’s best defensive adaptation is its skin, which is covered in dermal denticles that makes it very tough, along with a thick layer of cartilage. Numerous whale sharks have been seen with bite marks and scars from predators, indicating they have survived those attacks.
• Whale shark season is between March to June

Conservation Status: Vulnerable to extinction  | Source: animaldiversity.org

Whale shark watching: Swim with whale sharks

An award-winning ecotourism site is found in Donsol, Sorsogon, a humble coastal town which is also dubbed as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”. 

Upon arrival, tourists are asked to register and attend a brief orientation on the responsible whale shark interaction. A carrying capacity of 7 pax per boat is strictly observed. Each group is accompanied by local crews including 1 boatman, 1 whale shark spotter and 1 to 2 Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO). BIOs are skilled and trained local guides that act as facilitators of ecological whale shark interaction activity.

All visitors are required to attend a brief orientation about responsible whale shark interaction and do’s and don’ts.

The excited tourists with our local boat crew

The whale shark interaction activity in Donsol puts a premium on the welfare of these gentle giants and the authentic experience of tourists – carrying capacity is observed, a safe distance is maintained and whale sharks are not harmed or fed. There are also other destinations that offer whale shark interaction (like Oslob or Lila) but they are no match to the ecological and sustainable whale shark activity at Donsol, Sorsogon.

Philippine Eagle

The Philippine Eagle | Photo: Shankar s. / Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0

Philippine Eagle Scientific Name: Pithecophaga Jefferyi

Interesting Facts about this Philippine Wildlife – the Philippine Eagle

• The Philippine Eagle is one of the largest birds on Earth. It can grow 2-3 feet in height while its wingspan can extend up to 6 to 7 feet.
• The Philippine Eagle has a very big, curved beak and long crown of feathers. They are considered the only bird of prey in the world with blue eyes. They have 8x sharper eyesight than humans, allowing them to see prey and predators from afar.
• They are monogamous and take only one partner for life. Both male and female nurse the baby. They only take care of one chick at a time and don’t breed again until the baby eagle is able to survive on its own. This is the reason why they only produce only one egg every two years.
• Its habitat is the rainforest and is endemic to the Philippines. They can be found on the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.

Conservation Status: One of the 3 most endangered eagle species in the world

Philippine Eagle National Center

Rare opportunity to see the Philippine Eagle at a safe distance

Other extinct birds that are found at the Philippine Eagle Center, Davao.

Blue Peafowl

The Philippines is also an excellent destination for birdwatching. An important birding site we can recommend is Olango Island.

Tamaraw

A Tamaraw resting in the sun  | Photo by: Tatianaput  | Shutter stock photo ID: 407972701

Philippine Tamaraw Scientific Name: Bubalus Mindorensis

Interesting Facts About the Philippine Wildlife – the Tamaraw

• Tamaraws are distinguished from related buffalo by their smaller stature and straight horns. Interestingly, horn shape can be used to determine the sex of skulls, with male horns being thicker, longer, flatter, and closer together than those of females.
• Tamaraws are found only on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. They inhabit Mindoro’s abundant grasslands and secondary successional forests and can be found at 300 to 1000 m in elevation.
• Bubalus Mindorensis breeds during the dry season, from December to May. Gestation is 276 to 315 days, timed so that births occur during Mindoro’s wet season (June to November), when there are a fresh, abundant food supply. Cows give birth to only a single calf every two years. 
• Tamaraws are herbivorous, feeding on grass species during the rainy season they feed on shoots of bamboo.

Conservation Status: Critically endangered with an observed decline of 80% over the last 10 years.  | Source: animaldiversity.org

Philippine Saltwater Crocodile or Estuarine Crocodile

 Philippine Crocodile Scientific Name: Crocodylus Porosus

Interesting Facts About this Philippine Wildlife – the Saltwater Crocodile

• Philippine Saltwater Crocodile or Estuarine Crocodile is considered the Earth’s largest living crocodilian. The average size of males can reach 17 feet or 5 meters and upto 23 feet (7 meters) long.
• Saltwater Crocodile are excellent swimmers and have often been spotted far out of sea. They live in inland lakes, swamps and marshes as well as coastal brackish waters and tidal sections of rivers.
• They have stones in their guts. They swallow large stones to serve as ballasts to help them swim, dive and stay underwater.
• They are classic, opportunistic predators and they’ll feed on anything they can get their jaws on, including water buffalo, monkeys, even sharks.

Crocodile Conservation Area

Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center is located in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. It is a breeding place of crocodiles in the Philippines which is under the management of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR).

Crocodile Park houses a number of this endemic species. Aside from Saltwater Crocodiles, the park also houses a variety of other Philippine wildlife, a souvenir shop, a canteen, a photo area and lots of greeneries.

The knowledgeable guide at the conservation center and in the background is the crocodile skin and skeleton of one of the longest crocodile in the world

Irrawaddy Dolphin (locally known as “Lampasut”)

Sightings of Irrawaddy Dolphin in Quezon, Palawan

Irrawaddy Dolphin Scientific Name: Orcaella Brevirostris

Interesting Facts About this Philippine Wildlife – the Irrawaddy Dolphin:

• The appearance of Irrawaddy Dolphin is similar to the Beluga Whales and is lightly colored all over. They have a blunt, rounded head, and an indistinct beak. Their dorsal fin is short, blunt and triangular.
• Contrary to what some people believe, this animal is not a true river dolphin, but an oceanic dolphin that lives in brackish water near coasts, river mouths and in estuaries. 
• A peculiar behavior of this charming dolphin is spitting out streams of water.
• This species enjoys the highest level of international protection. All trade is forbidden, under international agreements.

Conservation Status: Vulnerable to extinction | Source: www.panda.org

Irrawaddy Dolphin Sightings

WWF – Philippines recently recorded sightings of critically-endangered Irrawaddy dolphins at waters of Quezon, Palawan in Western Philippines. Previous populations of these dolphins have been documented in Malampaya Sound, as well as off the island of Panay.

Dolphin Watching Activity Philippines

In the Philippines, a hidden gem called Pamilacan Island offers excellent opportunities for dolphin sightings. This small island is located in Bohol, Philippines. Here, dolphins coexist with the fishing community. They are not killed nor harmed and fishermen alternately offer dolphin watching activity to anyone who visits. At Pamilacan Island, dolphins are freely living in the wild. If you are lucky, you can witness them play in the early parts of the day, with the help of experienced local boatmen.

Dolphins that are commonly sighted here are the Risso’s dolphin, the playful Spinner dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spotted dolphins and Fraser’s dolphins.

The Philippines: A Megadiverse Country and a Biodiversity Hotspot

It is also noteworthy that while we are considered as a megadiverse country, the Philippines is also considered a biodiversity hotspot. The term “biodiversity hotspot” refers to 25 biologically rich areas around the world that have lost at least 70 percent of their original habitat. This means that wildlife species and their habitats continue to be at risk and are threatened with destruction. | Source: Science Daily

According to a report from DENR, the country has more than 700 threatened plants and animals including the Philippine Eagle, Tamaraw, Philippine Crocodile, Philippine Pond Turtle and Dugong.

Sadly, irresponsible human activities and activities are among the many factors that caused this decline – overexploitation, deforestation, land degradation, overcommercialization, mass tourism, etc. Today the Philippines is known as an example of the deep costs of ecological decline due to the alarming rate of destruction of our natural resources.

The Philippine government with the help of environmental groups and organizations (both local and international) is working on sustained efforts for the protection of Philippine biodiversity. Their efforts need the support and environmental consciousness of the people.

We can all be part of the solution. The choices we make, the actions we do and the products (or services) we buy have a direct or indirect effect on biodiversity. The survival of these remaining lives largely depends on the management of the resources. And this includes the tourism industry.

Support Sustainable Philippine Wildlife Encounters

At Kapwa Travel, we respect the wildlife by patronizing only activities and destinations that have ecological sensitivity. We despise the whale shark activity in Oslob. We never bring our tourists to the zoo or oceanaria. We abhor mass tourism, animal exploitation and irresponsible tourism.

A group of tourist who stopped to watch a Carabao bathing, along their way to the waterfalls

Here is a sample Philippine Wildlife Tour that we do at Kapwa. We also customize tours to meet the specific needs and wishes of our clients.

We invite our guests to become more discerning and caring about the environment they visit. Tourism activities need not to be destructive. After all, nature is our raison d’etre (the reason for being).

We love the Philippines and we want to take care of the Philippines. And this is our way of protecting our home – choosing better destinations, offering authentic animal encounters and promoting sustainable travels. It is our belief that tourism and the environment can be mutually supportive.