Silliman University's Center for Tropical Studies (Centrop) is doing it's share in preserving endangered species in the A.Y. Reyes Zoological and Botanical Garden.
Located in Daro, Dumaguete City, this mini-zoo is being aided in its efforts by a number of associations and other zoos like the Melbourne Zoo and the UK's Chester Zoo.
After paying a small entrance fee at the entrance, one climbs up a walkway that goes above and through the pens housing the Lagsaw, or Philippine spotted deer.
Their spots enable them to blend in perfectly with the dry leaves and the shadows cast by trees that my friend Bee exclaimed in surprise when she realized she was already face to face with one of the deer. He he he!
There are other cages after the walkway. Housed within them are crocodiles, monkeys, a large snake, bats, birds and wild pigs.
Centrop has something to be proud of recently. It has finally been able to breed within the zoo the critically endangered Pugngan or Negros bleeding-heart pigeon.
According to the caretaker in charge of the pigeons, the Pugngan in captivity had lain eggs but never actually remained with the eggs for the whole incubation period. If this behavior is prevalent amongs the species, then it is probably a factor on why the population of the Pugngan has drastically decreased. Ofcourse the biggest factor would be the dwindling forest area that served as their home.
To solve the breeding problem, they decided to try putting the eggs in the nest of the Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon. Apparently, the Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon would take care of all the eggs placed in its nest along as they are placed there at the same time its own eggs were lain, or even one day before it lays its eggs. Because the zoo had been able to find a host for the Pugngan eggs, the first batch of Pugngan eggs hatched last month. All but the youngest of the hatchlings are still alive.
Although the zoo is primarily concerned with the preservation and breeding of the bleeding-heart pigeons, it has a pair of the endangered Visayan Tarictic hornbill. A batch of hatchlings from the pair have been recently transferred to another zoo as the place can only accomodate a certain amount of birds. The male of the species (above) has more color than the female.
Another group of endangered animals in the zoo are the wild pigs.
The pigs in the zoo are shy creatures, and are cuter than their domesticated cousins. One of the pigs also gave birth recently.
This sign actually made me think of food... which made me feel guilty considering I was in a zoo.
As the place is also a botanical garden, scattered around the area are tall trees labeled with their local, english and scientific names. Some of the trees I have only heard and seen of only as part of furniture, or maybe seen as street names in Metro Manila.
I have to say though that I would rather call the tree below "sugar palm" than use its other name: "idiok"... the latter is way too close to the english word "idiot".
No comments:
Post a Comment