It's All About Saving Our Homeland

The Philippines In General The Philippines consists more then 7,107 islands, of which only 2,000 are inhabited. Only About 500 of the islands are larger than a square kilometer and about 2,500 of them are not even named. The total area of the Philippines is 299,404 square kilometers.

The highest mountain is Mt. Apo, near Davao in Mindanao, at 2,953 metres. The islands of the Philippines can be divided into three groups.

Luzon, the largest and most northern island and the site of the capital, Manila. The nearby islands of Mindoro and Marinduque are  included with Luzon. Mindanao, is the second largest island at the other end of the archipelago. The Visayas is a tightly-packed island group. There are seven major islands in this group - Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar and Masbate. Cebu is the central island of the group and Cebu City is a major tourist destination. There are over 30 volcanoes in the Philippines, 10 are classified as being active. The bigest and longest rivers are the Cagayan River, the Rio Grande de Pampanga and the Agno in Luzon; the Rio Grande de Mindanao and the Agusan River in Mindanao. Today, there are about 70+ million Filipinos; 8+ million live in Metro Manila. Filipinos are basically of Malay stock with Chinese and Spanish ancestries. An ever growing number of Filipinos are becoming urbanized, a great majority of Filipinos still till the land and live off it comfortably. Known for their hospitality, Filipinos are a warm and friendly people. Visitors are welcomed like members of the family and it is no surprise to find house guests being offered the best room in a Filipino home.

The Philippine Ecology - System A closer look presents a very diverse and highly interwoven eco-system. With a mixture of high, remote mountain systems, dense rain forests, and grasslands, the Philippine Islands considers only 27% of its land as arable. In general, the soils are considered of poor quality. With a population reaching 70 million, there is an on-going problem of being able to provide agricultural products for its own people. About 37% of the Philippines are covered by forest and woodland. This provides a cash crop of highly prized lumber that can be exported worldwide. Each time trees are harvested, it has a dramatic effect on the eco-system. With the increasing pressure on the Philippines to globalize it economy and its society, each step forward in industrial advancement exacts a tremendous price on the environment and its inhabitants. Over 10,000 plants and flora, 760 species of birds, and numerous species of mammals found only in the Philippine Islands are being systematically erased all for the sake of advancement. Wildlife In Need was set up by concerned local and foreign business men and women who realize that it is only a matter of time before the losses will out weigh the advances to these beautiful islands. Wildlife In Need sole purpose is, to carefully chose life preservation projects that it can manage towards the goal of saving the endangered wild life and eco-systems concerned. It is dedicated to providing a real difference in the approach to wild live and eco-system preservation.       Please join today in making a real difference by your generous donation. By providing us with the funding for these worthwhile projects, You make a statement: that You want to save these eco areas for future generations to enjoy!                                                                                                                                thank You!

Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) The Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta), which is one of the smallest primates, is more closely related to the tree shrew and slow loris. Its diet consists of mainly insects. The head to body length ranges from 90 to 160 mm and its body weight is from 70 to 165 grams. It has a pair of large membranous and paper ears which look like a bat. The ears can usually turn towards the direction of the sound can also be crinkled or moved in opposite directions. Its great hearing is complemented by its acute vision making them great hunters at night. They are confined to the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and some parts of Mindanao. They are found in various habitats particularly in dense patches of bushes, tall grasses, bamboos and small trees in tropical rainforest. Their strong preference for secondary growth forest may be attributed to the presence of numerous saplings, creepers as well as bamboos which are good for its arboreal adaptation. Because of its interesting features and anthropoid appearance, it is in great demand as a house pet but rarely lives long in captivity. Hunters and trappers employ various ways to capture the tarsier. They usually shake the trees and branches or they cut down bamboos until the Tarsier falls down to the ground. Here they either throw a burlap sack on them, catch them by hand, or set specially trained dogs on them where they are sold as pets for as low as 100 pesos. As stated earlier, they rarely live long in captivity!. They are usually so traumatized by their experience that they will rarely socialize with their human captors and their have been cases where they will commit suicide by banging their heads against the bars. This species has been heavily affected by deforestation aside from the hunting and trapping. Wildlife In Need  emphasizes the need to establish a relationship between Inhabitant and the conservation of nature. Your Donation helps us very much to pursue this purpose and to realize this goal                                                                   thank You!

TURTLES There are eight species of sea turtles which inhabit the warm waters of the world. Five of these species can be found in the Philippines. Most commonly found in the Philippine waters is the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). Also found here but rapidly diminishing numbers are the Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). various ethnic groups have differing names for the sea turtle but it is more popularly known as pawikan. The sea turtle, which evolved during the age of the dinosaurs, is the only reptile with a shell. It has changed very little in its 150 million years of existence. It had no need to evolve further for its shell adequately protected it. With such an armor an adult sea turtle know but few natural enemies. It has overcome geologic changes and has survived until today by the virtue of this protection. PAWIKAN TRADE Although man has always hunted turtles, the rate at which he is presently killing them off has progressively increased. The great demand for turtle by-products such as turtle-shell wall decor, jewelry pieces and shell-backed guitars entices poachers, fishermen and businessmen to risk being caught while indulging in the outlawed but lucrative pawikan trade. For many years turtle by-products was a major export item of the Philippines. Between 1970-1986 alone, the country has supplied Japan (the world's largest importer of sea turtles) with a total 32,921 kilograms of bekko of Hawksbill species. (Bekko is a Japanese word for the shell of the hawksbill, a turtle that is particularly prized for its ornate shell. Hawksbills have been turned into everything from cabinets to door posts, hand mirrors, and cribbage sets. There seems no end to the uses humans make of these animals!) WHAT CAN YOU DO? Resist buying turtle eggs, meat, shell or products made from marine turtle shell or skin .  Help Wildlife In Need to preserve turtle nesting grounds with Your Donation                                                           Donate now                             thank You!

Dugong (Dugonidae) There is still a lot to learn from the Dugong. Most of the information we have on the dugong was derived from dead specimens and from the very limited contact in the wild. Breeding generally occurs throughout the year but it commonly peaks during the season when seagrass are most abundant. Only very few matings have been reported and observed and more observations are need to fully define the mating behavior. Gestation last for 13 months and a single calf is born. It is believed that dugongs seek shallow areas for calving. Majority of births occurs when seagrass growth is at its peak. Babies start muching on the seagrass while they suckle and the calf lactates until about 18 months. During this period, a strong bond between mother and calf is formed. The calf stays close to the mother at all times and a dugong of up to 1.8 m in length still suckles from the mother. Calving occurs every 3 to 7 years only. Dugongs cannot stay submerged for long periods of time and need to constantly breathe since they are mammals. Dugons swim at a very slow pace about 5 kilometers per hour, though they have been know to reach speeds of up to 20 kilometers per hour. This suggests that they have very few natural predators. Dugongs are frequently on the prowl for more food but have also been know to return to the same feeding grounds. Some Dugongs have been know to travel 200 kilometers in search of food. Dugongs feed on a wide range of seagrasses and consume large amounts of seagrass. This is due to the seagrasses relatively low nutrient value. They feed on the whole plant, including the Rhizome and the roots. The mouth of the dugong is pointed townward to allow them to feed off the sea bottom even when their body is in a horizontal position. Dugongs in the wild can be seen singly, mother and calf pairs, small groups, or in a herd of up to a hundred of animals. They are presumed to be social animals. These sightings have never been known in modern times here in the Philippines. Habitat and Distribution All the Dugong needs is warm water, abundant seagrasses and shelter from rough sea conditions. These conditions are all present in the Philippines and other parts of Asia and Australia. They are also found within the Indian Ocean nd West Pacific Oceans. The Dugon population is said to be at an estimate of 20,000 to 30,000 though recent estimates in Australias coast alone is about 80,000 making the population of the Dugongs in the world much higher than previous estimates. In the Philippines Dugongs were supposedly to have thrived all over the country. They were supposedly found in the Zambales Region in the north to the Bicol Region in the South. Even Manila Bay was supposed to harbor some Dugongs in the early 70's. They were also known to be found in the Central Philippine islands of Mindoro, Romblon, and Masbate. They have also been found out to thrive in the Visayas region from Cebu, Bohol, Samar and Leyte, plus the other offshore islands in the Visayas region. They have also been know to occur in Mindanao where archealogical findings in Butuan from 1981 to 1990 yielded dugong ribs dating from the 9th to the 12th centuries. Citings have also been known to occur in Southern mindanao in the General Santos area. Though a lot of these places used to harbor dugongs, there have been less and less citings of dugongs in many of these places. In fact in most of these places, only the old timers are familiar with the dugong. 'They are now only found in Palawan with relative reliability. Conservation efforts in the Philippines are currently being implemented by the DENR, Toba aquarium in Japan,  Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas and Wildlife In Need. Though the Dugongs has a far way to go before being declared safe sound. They need everyones help to survive.      Please, support this conservation efforts with a donation                          thank You!

Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) The Philippine Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is a small buffalo and is the largest endangered land animal here in the Philippines found only in Mindoro. It is a unique animal slightly smaller than the common carabao but closely resembling the carabao in all respects. Its horns grow straight upward with a "V" form instead of a circular growth as in a carabao horn. This animal feeds mainly on grasses of various species but cogon grass is most preferred. It frequents dense vegetation along the rivers and spends most of its time in marshy areas. The Philippine Tamaraw can also be found in open grasslands and forests with an elevation of more than 2,000 meters above sea level. It is a solitary creature in nature except during the breeding season in the summer months of April to July. Destruction of its habitat due to deforestation or habitat alterations have contributed to its decline. Over hunting or collection for trophies have also taken a heavy toll on the Tamaraw population. From 10,000 head in the 1900's, the Tamaraw population is now down to 369 heads in the late 80's giving them a precarious grip on survival. Sins Mindoro became more accessible to human settlement. Since that time, the tamaraw's population has been reduced from abundance to a critically low level. By 1966 its range had been reduced almost entirely to 3 principal areas: Mt. Iglit, Mt. Calavite, and the vicinity of the Sablayon Penal Settlement.  By 2000, reports suggested that tamaraw were restricted to just 2 areas: the Iglit Ranges, in Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park, and Aruyan, with very few data about numbers in either site. The tamaraw has declined mainly because of hunting, especially after the introduction of modern firearms after WWII and the Vietnam war; and habitat loss, due to settlement, logging and ranching,     Support of the public is key to the success of the conservation program!     Please, support this conservation program and donate                             thank You!

Flying Lemur (Cynocephalus volans) There are only two species of Flying lemur that survive in the present day. The Philippine Flying Lemur and the Malayan flying lemur. The former can only be found in the Philippines while the latter can be found in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and Borneo. The Philippine Flying Lemur (Cynocephalus volans) used to be common in the wilderness of Basilan, Leyte, Samar, Bohol, and some parts of the Mindanao where it was locally know as "Kagwang" Flying lemurs are brown or grey in colour and are covered with irregular white spots. They have a distinctive head, being both broad and flat. The feet contain long, needle-shaped claws. Flying lemurs   also called the colugo, the flying lemur is brownish or grayish above and paler below. It ranges in length from 14 to 17 in. (36-43 cm), plus a 12-in. (30-cm) tail. A membrane stretching from forelimbs to tail resembles that of the bat (but unlike the bat membrane it is not supported by fingers) and allows the animal to glide from tree to tree; the flying lemur does not truly fly, It can glide as far as 65 to 80 meters in a single leap. Although its teeth resemble those of carnivores, the flying lemur's diet consists of fruit and leaves. During the daytime, it stays inside hollow trees or clings to branches and trunks with dense foliage making them hard to spot. It travels fast and covers wide distances through gliding in the forest and is well known internationally for its unique nature. Females give birth to one or two young following a gestation period of 60 days. It is also the preferred food of one of the World's rarest birds, the Philippine Eagle and has been reported that 90% of the eagle's diet consists of flying lemur. Flying lemurs are not related to true lemurs which are primates, but belong to an order of their own. Like many rain-forest species, they are endangered. Its fur is used to make caps and its flesh is a delicacy making the Philippine Flying Lemur an attractive prey to hunters. Its habitat has been destroyed by logging and consequent conversion of forest land to other uses. There are 2 families, one of which is extinct. Today there are 2 living species. Cynocephalidae (flying lemurs) 2 spp Plagiomenidae (flying lemurs - extinct) Every possible support is necessary to protect the Philippine Flying Lemur against the extinction                                                             thank You! .

The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is one of the two largest eagles in the world.  It is undoubtedly the tallest, and holds the world record for wingspan in any eagle . . . it can exceed eight feet. The Philippine monkey-eating eagle is well named for its preference for eating monkeys, particularly macaques. This ferocious-looking bird stands over 3 feet (1 m) tall and can weigh up to 9 pounds (4 kg) -- larger than a golden eagle. Bluish eyes, a large, sharp, curved beak, and a warlike headdress of spiky feathers, give the Philippine eagle a striking appearance. Philippine eagles are raptors. Philippine eagles inhabit tropical rain forests and are well-adapted to life in dense foliage. Despite their great size, they have short, broad wings and a squared-off tail that allows them to rise almost vertically between trees and maneuver with speed and agility through branches and vines. They are adept at snatching monkeys or other mammals or birds from trees. The Philippine eagle also attacks domestic animals such as dogs, pigs, and young goats. The Philippine eagle became a desirable acquisition for zoos and private collectors, beginning in the 1960s. Collectors stole young eagles from nests for sale to the highest bidder. Reduced territory size, declining numbers of prey animals, and disappearance of large nesting trees all have contributed to the eagle's decline. Because of their position at top of the food chain, raptors are particularly vulnerable to toxins, such as pesticides, which build up in their prey species. The Philippine eagle also was a prized trophy for hunters. Conservation Actions Hunting of and trade in the Philippine eagle are now prohibited. The greatest threat to its survival remains the continued loss of its tropical rain forest habitat. At a minimum, selective logging methods should be employed to protect the large nesting trees and leave sufficient tracts of undisturbed forest to support eagles. In addition, the use of agricultural pesticides needs to be reduced to prevent poisoning of animals at the top of food chains. Wildlife In Need  supports The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).                                                                                                                           thank You!