PHILIPPINE OWL CONSERVATION PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY :
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau
COOPERATING INSTITUTION :
World Owl Trust (WOT)
Muncaster Castle, Raenglas, Cumbria, CA18 1RQ,England
Owl Taxon Advisory Group
Federation of Zoological Gardens of Britain and Ireland
DATE STARTED : 1998
FUNDING SOURCE : World Owl Trust
BACKGROUND INFORMATION :
In late 1994, the WOT-OTAG signified its intent to collaborate with DENR-PAWB in the implementation of a conservation /research program for the Philippine Owls. The Program includes propagating the species in captivity and conduct in- country activities related to the conservation of the Philippine owls, such as field studies/surveys and IEC through the production of educational materials for dissemination purposes.
The Program formally started in March 1998 by virtue of a MOA between the DENR and WOT.
OBJECTIVES :
* To conserve the endemic Philippine owls and other similar endangered Philippine avifaunal species in the wild and in captivity;
* To develop and provide extensive education program on endemic flora and fauna, with particular emphasis on owls;
* To define the actual habitat requirements and current distributions/status of the Philippine eagle owl;
* To conduct field inventories/surveys, taxonomic or genetic studies and other conservation-related studies/activities on Philippine owls;
ACCOMPLISHMENTS :
* 16 Philippine Eagle owls have been located in several institutions and these birds can be moved to the Negros Forest Ecological Foundation, Inc. Biodiversity conservation Center, when owl's aviaries have been completed. Funding have already been provided by WOT-OTWG for the purpose;
* DNA studies have commenced on a selection of owls species/subspecies held in UK collection, with some samples being undertaken from wild-origin individuals for comparison. Particular emphasis will be placed on establishing the genetic links between Bubo philippensis, other Bubo species, Asiatic Fish owls Ketupa species, Philippine Otus and Ninox (when samples are obtained);
* Printing of Endemic Philippine Owl posters in the Only in the Philippines series. Posters are produced in three languages - Tagalog, Eanglish and Visayas;
* Distribution of Posters on Owl to suitable organizations, institutions;
* Field survey and confirmation of the presence of Negros Scops owl and Negros hawk owl in Negros Occidental particularly in Ban Ban forest; and,
* Owls Management Guidelines have been distributed to DENR-PAWB, CENTROP, Manila Zoo, Montalban Zoo and Mar-it Conservation Park;
MILESTONES :
ON-GOING/FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
* Assistance for improving in-situ facilities for Philippine Owls;
* Development of a studbook for Bubo philippensis as soon as owl species are transferred in the POCP breeding facility;
* Continuous survey of Philippine Owl population in the wild; and,
* Development of an Integrated Management Plan for Endemic Owls.
Featured Wildlife Species of the Month
