Month: January 2018

Why exhibit Visayan warty pigs?

•  Help save this species now! The express purpose of this captive breeding program is to act as a genetic insurance policy: hybridization with feral pigs is a major threat to wild populations.
• Present a spokes-species for island endemism, and tell the stories of habitat loss, human impacts on islands, and the bush meat trade. The Visayan warty pig is listed as #104 on the list of the most evolutionary distinct, globally endangered (EDGE) mammals.
• Create an instant hit with your visitors! This species needs no help endearing itself, from the striped piglets to the “punk rocker” males with a mohawk mane of hair.
• Challenge the public perception that pigs are heavy and awkward by providing this species with climbing opportunities — and create an exciting exhibit at the same time.

The Tamaraw, Bubalus mindorensis, is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It is the largest mammal endemic to the Philippines and can only be
found on the island of Mindoro.

The main current threat to the Tamaraw is habitat loss due to farming by resettled and local people. Historically, this species was hunted for both subsistence and sport, which led to a
period of drastic decline in numbers of individuals and populations. The introduction of cattle in the past also caused a rinderpest epidemic that contributed to a further decline in numbers.
The Tamaraw population has now stabilized and has even shown signs of recovery due to the total ban on sport hunting, closure of nearby ranches, and more intensive patrolling and
awareness activities.

The Tamaraw is listed on CITES Appendix I and also receives total protection under Philippine law. A captive breeding programme for this species proved unsuccessful, and so conservation
efforts are now focused on protecting the wild population of this charismatic Philippine mammal.[/vc_column_text]