Being an entirely
endemic and
rare land mammal,
Bubalus mindorensis stands as an extremely vulnerable species. Currently, it is classified as a
critically endangered species and has been so since 2000 by the
IUCN on its
IUCN Red List of endangered species. Awareness of the conservation status of
Bubalus mindorensis began way back in 1965 when it was classified as
Status inadequately known by the IUCN. Enough data was gathered on the tamaraw population by 1986,
[24] and the IUCN conservation monitoring center declared the species
endangered. Throughout succeeding surveys conducted in 1988,
[25] 1990,
[26] 1994
[27] and 1996, the species remained listed on the Red List as
endangered. The relisting of the species in 1996 fulfilled the IUCN criteria
B1+2c and
D1. Criterion
B1
indicated that the species' range was less than 500 square kilometers
and is known to exist in less than five independent locations. A noticed
continuing decline in the population fulfilled sub-criterion
2c, given the condition of the population's sole habitat. Criterion
D1 essentially required that a population be composed of less than 250 mature individuals; individual counts of the
B. mindorensis population at the time figured significantly lower than this.
[28] In 2000, the tamaraw was relisted on the Red List under the more severe
C1
criteria. This was due to estimates that the population would decline
by 20% in five years or within the timespan of two generations.
[3][29]
Many factors have contributed to the decline of the tamaraw
population. Over the course of the century, the increase of the human
population on
Mindoro has exposed the island's sole tamaraw population to severe
anthropogenic pressures. In the 1930s, the introduction of
non-native cattle on the island caused a severe
rinderpest epidemic among the tamaraw population then-numbering in the thousands.
Hunting
of tamaraws for food and sustenance has also taken a toll on the
species' numbers. The most major factor threatening survival of
B. mindorensis is
habitat loss due to
infrastructure development,
logging and
agriculture. These factors reduced the population of thousands during the early 1900s to less than 300 individuals in 2007.
[3][4]
Due to the decline of the
B. mindorensis population, various
Philippine laws and organizations have been created towards the
conservation of the species. In 1936, Commonwealth Act No. 73 was
enacted by the then-
Philippine Commonwealth.
The act specifically prohibited killing, hunting and even merely
wounding tamaraws, with an exception noted for self-defense (if one were
to be attacked by an agitated individual) or for scientific purposes.
The penalties were harsh enough to include a hefty fine and
imprisonment.
[30]
In 1979, an executive order was signed creating a committee
specifically geared towards the conservation of the tamaraw. The tamaraw
was referred to as a "source of national pride" in the said E.O.
[31] The
Tamaraw Conservation Project was also established in 1979. The organization has successfully bred a tamaraw, nicknamed "Kali", in captivity in 1999.
[4]
In 2001, Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and
Protection Act was enacted to protect the tamaraw and other endemic
species from hunting and sale.
[32]
During the 1970s, a gene pool was established to preserve the tamaraw's
numbers. However, the project was not successful as only one offspring,
named "Kali", was produced. As of 2011, Kali is the only surviving
animal in the gene pooling project. The project was also not improved as
the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau shown that the tamaraws were
already breeding in the wild. Cloning was not implemented for
conservation as the Department of Environment and Natural Resource
argued that such measures would diminish the genetic diversity of the
species.
[33]
A small subpopulation of tamaraw has been found within the confines of the
Mt. Iglit Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary on the same island of Mindoro.
[14]
As of May 2007,
Bubalus mindorensis is on
Appendix I of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
where it has been since the species was first put on the list on
January 7, 1975. With the listing, CITES recognizes the species as
critically endangered and threatened with
extinction.
Thus, international commercial trade in the species or any derivatives
of which, such as the meat, horns or flesh is considered illegal. While
commercial trade in the species is prohibited, exchange for
non-commercial reasons such as scientific research is allowed.
[34][35]
In October 2008, the
Department of Agriculture's
Philippine Carabao Center
(DA-PCC) director, Dr. Arnel del Barrio, officially reported that the
tamaraw population had increased yearly by an average of 10% from 2001
to 2008. The April 2008 tamaraw expedition reports of the Tamaraw
Conservation Program (Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park in
Mindoro Occidental), by government and private entities, including
Far Eastern University
(FEU) students, revealed that "the tamaraw population was counted at
263 this year compared to only 175 heads in 2001. The calving rate
estimated by number of yearlings is considerably high... (which could
mean that) more than 55% of the tamaraws are giving birth. In Mount
Iglit-Baco National Park, the official count of the animal was 263 in
2006, 239 in 2007 and 263 in 2008." Mindoro's indigenous
Mangyan people have stopped slaughtering the animal for its blood.
The
Haribon Foundation
called the animal "Mindoro’s endangered treasure" and later "the
Philippines’ endangered flagship species" until 2005. In the 1930s the
tamaraw population declined due to
rinderpest, a
viral disease
affecting cattle. In the 1960s and 1970s, hunters killed tamaraws for
sport. More importantly, the rampant deforestation (from 80% habitat
forest cover in the 1900s down to 8% in 1988) in the area hastened the
animal's decline.
The
Bangkok, Thailand International Union for the Conservation of Species (IUCS) has established a 280-
hectare gene pool farm in
Rizal,
Mindoro Occidental. Also, extensive
reforestation
was implemented to hasten the tamaraws' propagation. The animals are
now found only in the mountainous portions of Mt. Iglit-Baco National
Park, Mt. Calavite, Mt. Halcon-Eagle Pass, Mt. Aruyan-Sablayan-Mapalad
Valley, and Mt. Bansud-Bongabong-Mansalay.
The 2002 Presidential Proclamation 273 set October as a "Special
Month for the Conservation and Protection of the Tamaraw in Mindoro.".
[36][37] At least 90% belong to Mount Iglit-Baco. To this day there are about 100 left, facing human-induced extinction.
