My recent trip down to Devon and Cornwall gave me food for thought for my blog this week. However, sadly its not about Cornish pasties or whether jam or cream goes onto your scones first. The Islands of the Philippines are on the agenda this week and how rich they are in species diversity.

My own trips to the zoo

While down in the west country I went to Paignton and Newquay zoo. That’s what you do as a zookeeper while on holiday, take time away from your animals to go and see other peoples animals. Of course, everyone knows I don’t have favourites at Wingham. However, I do have a soft spot for Maximus and Achilles, so I paid a bit of attention to their Visayan Warty Pig enclosure.

As I was walking around their enclosure I noticed signage about other animals that you only find in the Philippines. This included the Northern Luzon Cloud Rats which we of course have at the park, but also Philippines Spotted Deer and Bleeding Heart Dove (both species I would love to see at Wingham one day). Since working with the Pigs and Cloud Rats at Wingham I’ve grown to want to know more about other the species that are found in the Philippines.

Wildlife of the Philippines

Across the 7,600 plus islands that make up the Philippines, you can find over 50,000 different species including unique species of flora and fauna. More than half of these are found nowhere else in the world. Its islands are classified into three main geographical areas, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Threats from over-harvesting, land fragmentation and loss of habitat sadly now threaten many of them with extinction. With its topography consisting of mountainous terrains, dense forests, plains, and coastal areas, the Philippines are rich in biodiversity. This is clearly reflected in the wildlife found there.

The Philippines are inhabited by more than 200 species of mammals. The vegetation found there is Indigenous; it’s home to thousands of species of flowering plants and ferns. This includes hundreds of species of orchids some of which are extremely rare.

Hundreds of species of birds are also found across the islands. Notably, the endangered Philippine Eagle is largely limited to isolated areas on the Mindanao and Luzon islands. The seas surrounding the islands and the inland lakes and rivers are inhabited by no fewer than 2,000 varieties of fish. You can even find Sea Horses in the reefs of the Visayan Islands.

A number of species of marine turtles, Philippine crocodile and saltwater crocodile are protected. A diverse array of reptiles and amphibians, including Water Monitor Lizards, Skinks, Geckos, Frogs and Snakes are abundant with more than 100 species being endemic to the Philippines.

What protection is there for the wildlife?

Sadly, many of the animals found in the Philippines are endangered. While the country has passed laws to protect wildlife, the enforcement of those laws hasn’t been well executed. Therefore, the species are in fact receiving minimal protection. If you ever get the chance to go to any of the islands some of the most notable endangered wildlife include:

  • Philippine eagle – The Philippine eagle is the national bird of the Philippines and the world’s tallest and longest extant eagle.
  • Philippine crocodile – One of the rarest crocodiles in the world.
  • Tamaraw – Dwarf buffalo which is often cherished by the Filipino people.
  • Visayan Wrinkled Hornbill – Gets its English name from the wrinkled crest just above its bill.
  • Tarsier – This is the second smallest primate in the world.
  • Whale shark – The Philippines has the third densest population of whale sharks in the world.

To end this weeks blog I thought I would share some of the pictures I took while away down in Devon and Cornwall. I hope you enjoy them 😊

About Matt - Head of mammals