PROTECTED BIRDS. Conservation efforts at Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) Cotabato gained a boost as three adults and one juvenile Mindanao Rufous Hornbills were documented during a monitoring activity by the MANP Cotabato Philippine Eagle Monitoring Team in Magpet, North Cotabato, on Sept. 9-14, 2024. The presence of a juvenile hornbill (inset) suggests an active breeding area. (Photo courtesy of DENR Soccsksargen)
KIDAPAWAN CITY – Environmentalists monitoring endangered wildlife near the peak of Mt. Apo in Magpet, North Cotabato, have sighted three adult and one juvenile Mindanao Rufous Hornbills (Buceros hydrothorax mundanensis), an official said Thursday.
The Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP) Cotabato Philippine Eagle Monitoring Team documented and filmed the hornbills on Sept. 14, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Felix Alicer said.
This marks the second sighting of the species in the area this year, following the observation of a Rufous Hornbill in May.
Alicer described the presence of a juvenile in the recent sighting as a significant milestone, suggesting active breeding in the area and highlighting the success of ongoing local conservation efforts.
Endemic to Mindanao, the Rufous Hornbill is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to deforestation, habitat loss, and hunting.
Alicer said the species’ continued presence in the park indicates a still-intact forest ecosystem capable of supporting their survival.
“This documentation is a positive step forward for biodiversity conservation and underscores the importance of protecting these critical habitats,” he said. (PNA)
