Field Research

Thirty years ago, Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation, Inc. started this project. A once denuded mountain face is now a lush forest, where former illegal loggers and poachers protect what they have grown. Co-managed by the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), this is another potential release site for our Captive Bred species. With a successful ranger program sponsored by BACIWA, we have hopes to make this location a pioneering Environmentally Ethical Tourist Destination.

Nestled in a corner of the North Negros Natural Park in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, our current project includes camera trapping and research. Through the generous donation of Bristol Zoo’s four camera traps, we have managed to capture rare wildlife images from this portion of the Natural Park. And through the cooperation of the City Government, we are continuing our research.

As close to their natural habitat as they can get, our endemic wildlife has found refuge in this 200 hectare park in Bayawan City. Co-managed by the City Government, this government owned park is a micro-ecosystem where we can observe our wildlife in a semi-natural habitat. Much is still unknown about their natural behavior, specifically the Visayan Spotted Deer, and this park is crucial to understanding more of their habits, providing us with critical information for hopeful release into the Natural and National Parks. It is a first step to bringing our wildlife home.

An island of forest in Negros Oriental, our ongoing field research to determine the feasibility of this site for habitat restoration, protection and eventual animal release, makes this Park one of the foundation’s most exciting projects. Although hunting and poaching is still present in some areas of this 8,000 hectare Park, with community empowerment and training, it has the potential to be a home for some of our captive bred animals. We have a long road to change ahead of us, but with the support of the current Protected Areas Management Bureau and the local communities around the park, we can make change happen. Current survey efforts from our in-situ team have already led to amazing discoveries, including the sightings of King Cobra (an important ecosystem species), leopard cats and confirmed two of our West Visayan Big Five species: the Negros Bleeding Heart Dove and Tarictic Hornbill.

Within the municipalities of Ayungon and Tayasan, surrounded by the central mountain range of Negros, lies approximately 3,000 hectares of remaining forest. With requests, and support, from the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and a push from the municipal governments, we have set out to help identify if any of the West Visayan Big Five species are present, and if so, where they are located. This information could help in providing much needed conservation protection for these forested areas. It will also provide us with much needed information on populations of these endemic endangered and critically endangered species. Evidence of the West Visayan Big Five species is of vital importance in this much changed Negros landscape. With recent camera trapping efforts, sponsored by Chester Zoo, together with the Ayungon Conservation Development Department of the DENR, we have revealed a population of our Visayan Warty Pigs in one of the forest fragments. This now allows us to work to declare the site a conservation protected area, and enable us to carry out critical research on this elusive species.