Wildlife in the Philippines
The
Philippines has one of the highest biodiversity on the planet. The
country is surrounded by waters and dotted with lush tropical forests.
It’s an abundant home to thousands of species. New discoveries are made
continuously in the country resulting into a much bigger number of
species and expected to increase in years to come.
So
to give tribute to the wildlife of the Philippines, here’s a rundown of
some of the country’s endemic creatures found nowhere else in the
world:
Philippine Eagle
The Philippine Eagle also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle is one of the rarest and strongest birds in the world. Stated as the Philippines’ national bird, the Philippine Eagle is found in the islands of eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao. Due to deforestation, it has become one of the endangered species of the country – killing it would result to more than 10 years of imprisonment.
Tarsier
Philippine Tarsiers are among the many highlights and most treasured wonders of the Philippines. Most of these nocturnal creatures are found in Bohol. You can expect to see these adorable creatures hanging on trees in slumber during daylight. Tourists are strongly advised not to touch or take photos of them using flash to avoid trauma on the part of the tarsiers. You can visit them at Bohol’s Tarsier Preservation Center.
Philippine Forest Turtle
An extremely rare and exotic creature found in the Philippines, the Philippine Forest Turtle is found in the islands of Palawan.
This omnivorous creature feeds on aquatic plants and small fishes. Due
to the abusive acts of the people and probable threats from habitat
loss, the Philippine Forest Turtle is now critically endangered.
These
are just some of the Philippines’ countless treasures; there are still
so many of them waiting to be discovered. Let’s all do our part to
protect them from extinction so that they can see the future with us.
