Mindoro’s rarest bird captured on camera after nearly two decades

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — A critically endangered bird that’s considered one of Mindoro’s rarest species has been captured on camera for the first time in nearly two decades, offering conservationists fresh hope for its survival in the island’s remaining forests.

The Mindoro bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba platenae) was photographed in August at an elevation of more than 900 meters within the Iraya Mangyan ancestral domain, according to the Center for Conservation Innovation Philippines Inc. (CCIPH).

READ: ‘Lost’ Leyte bleeding-heart re-emerges after more than a century

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The sighting was made through an indigenous Filipino-led conservation initiative involving Iraya Mangyan communities and CCIPH under the Mindoro Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Programme (MFBCP).

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The latest record is particularly significant because the species has remained largely unseen for about 20 years, according to the conservation group.

The bird was documented at an elevation higher than locations where it had historically been recorded, providing potentially important information on its remaining habitat and distribution.

The Mindoro bleeding-heart is endemic to Mindoro and is among the Philippines’ most threatened birds. Its survival is closely tied to the protection of the island’s remaining forest habitats, which face continuing pressures from habitat loss and degradation.

For conservationists, the photograph represents more than a rare wildlife record.

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It provides evidence that the species may still persist in relatively intact portions of Mindoro’s forests and highlights the importance of protecting these areas, particularly within indigenous Filipino ancestral domains.

The involvement of Iraya Mangyan communities also underscores their role in safeguarding Mindoro’s biodiversity. /jpv