Bohol wildlife survey records 55 species

MANILA, Philippines — From bird calls overhead to bats and reptiles tucked into their habitats, a two-day wildlife survey in Bohol’s Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected Landscape and Seascape (ALLPLS) recorded 55 species across the protected area.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Visayas said the monitoring on Sept. 15 and 16 documented 47 bird species, four bat species and four reptile species.

The activity was part of the second-semester Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring System fauna monitoring at ALLPLS, which covers 1,165.52 hectares across three municipalities and 23 barangays.

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To find and document wildlife, the monitoring team used two approaches.

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Nets were carefully set up at selected locations to document birds and bats, while personnel walked a two-kilometer route through the forest and stopped at nine observation points.

At each station, the team watched and listened for wildlife, recording animals they could see or hear.

The activity was conducted by personnel from DENR-CENRO Tagbilaran City-ALLPLS, led by the protected area superintendent, together with personnel from the DENR Region VII Conservation and Development Division and the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office.

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For DENR and its partners, the monitoring goes beyond counting the animals encountered during the two-day survey.

Regular assessments help them determine which species are present, where they are found and how their populations and habitats may be changing over time.

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The DENR said the findings provide a clearer picture of wildlife within ALLPLS and information that can be used in planning the management and protection of the area.

“Every bird heard, bat recorded, or reptile spotted is a reminder that the forests and other natural habitats within ALLPLS are also their homes,” the DENR said. “Keeping these habitats healthymeans giving wildlife the food, shelter, and space they need to survive.”

The DENR also encouraged communities within and around protected areas to keep forests and waterways clean, avoid disturbing wild animals and protect the habitats where they naturally live.