NEWT - PB

16/05/2026

RESEARCH | When marine mammals become stranded, these events can provide important information about their health, population dynamics, biodiversity, and distribution.

This study looked at the strandings of marine mammals in the Philippines over 18 years, from 2005 to 2022. It showed a total of 1,368 stranding events, averaging 76 per year. Of the 30 marine mammal species in the Philippines, 27 species have stranded along the coasts. The most common stranders are the spinner dolphins, dugong, Risso’s dolphin, Fraser’s dolphins, and melon-headed whales. Most strandings involved a single animal, and more than half of them were alive when found. The study further identified certain areas or hotspots along the Philippine coastline, found mostly in Luzon, where strandings occur more frequently. It also investigated the timing of stranding events and found peaks in certain species during specific months, such as March to May for spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, and melon-headed whales.

The results of the study showed how human activities like fishing and illegal practices, along with natural factors, such as seasonal changes, contribute to strandings. Moreover, strandings can serve as an indicator of the health of marine mammal populations, particularly for vulnerable species like the Irrawaddy dolphins and dugongs.

Authors: Lemnuel V. Aragones (Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology (IESM), College of Science (CS), University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman | Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Inc., IESM, CS, UP Diliman), Alessandra Nicole L. Morado (IESM, CS, UP Diliman | Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Inc., IESM, CS, UP Diliman), Marie Christine M. Obusan (Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Inc., IESM, CS, UP Diliman | Institute of Biology, CS, UP Diliman), Honey Leen M. Laggui (IESM, CS, UP Diliman | Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Inc., IESM, CS, UP Diliman), Jonah L. Bondoc (Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Inc., IESM, CS, UP Diliman | Natural Sciences Research Institute, CS, UP Diliman), Leo Jonathan A. Suarez (Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network Inc., IESM, CS, UP Diliman | Ocean Adventure, Ilanin Forest West, Subic Bay Freeport), and Ewen Kye Lawler (Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics, Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra)

Published in Aquatic Mammals

Read more: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/research/study-examines-where-and-when-marine-mammals-were-stranded-in-the-philippines-over-an-18-year-period/

15/05/2026

Today is 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲! We spotlight the flora and fauna of CALABARZON currently fighting for survival. 🦅🌸

These species are listed as “𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱” on the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲’𝘀 (𝗜𝗨𝗖𝗡) 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗥 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 (𝗗𝗔𝗢) 𝗡𝗼. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲-𝟮𝟬, “𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀."

Let’s ensure that the beauty of CALABARZON remains for the next generation. It is not just about saving a species; it is about saving the web of life that sustains us all. 🌏✨

12/05/2026

In the Philippines, bats are the primary pollinators for high-value agricultural crops like the durian and wild bananas. There are approximately 79 bat species in the country, with about 30% being fruit and nectar bats (Pteropodids) that drive these pollination services. The pollens are transferred during their foraging at night through their fur and faces. They are also crucial seed dispersers with some considered being vital for forest regeneration.

07/05/2026

05/05/2026

The Mindanao treeshrew (Tupaia everetti), also called the Philippine tree shrew, is a species of treeshrew endemic to the Mindanao region in the Philippines. It was formerly considered the only member of the genus Urogale,but that genus was merged into Tupaia when the species was found to nest within the latter genus in a molecular phylogeny.

Currently listed as (LC) least concern in the IUCN red list but further study is always appreciated to guarantee their correct listing as their nesting behavior have only been quite recently studied but lack more volume as it has only been observed only about three times.

30/04/2026

“Caravanning" is a unique behavior where baby shrews form a conga line behind their mother, each biting the tail or fur of the sibling in front effectively acting as one unit to not get lost when moving.

Asian House Shrews (Suncus murinus) which are introduced species here in the philippines are commonly observed displaying this behavior.

29/04/2026

New species

Bagong Uri ng Ahas, Natala sa Isla ng Catanduanes

VIRAC, CATANDUANES — Isang panibagong tala ng ahas ang nadagdag sa listahan ng mga species na matatagpuan sa Isla ng Catanduanes matapos makilala ang Günther’s Philippine shrub snake (Oxyrhabdium leporinum), isang uri ng non-venomous na ahas na pangunahing kumakain ng mga invertebrates gaya ng bulate.

Ayon sa ulat, ang nasabing ahas ay na-encounter ni Mr. Feliciano Avila De Leon Jr. sa Barangay Santo Niño, Virac, Catanduanes. Ang pagkakatuklas na ito ay itinuturing na mahalagang ambag sa patuloy na dokumentasyon ng biodiversity ng isla.

Batay sa mga tala, ang Oxyrhabdium leporinum ay endemic or tanging dito lamang sa Pilipinas matatagpuan. Kabilang sa distribusyon nito ang Luzon, Mindoro, Cebu, Negros, Panay, Samar, Leyte, Dinagat, Camiguin Sur, Bohol, Basilan, at ang Babuyan Islands, partikular sa Calayan. Ipinapakita ng pagkakadagdag nito sa talaan ng fauna ng Catanduanes ang kahalagahan ng isla bilang tahanan ng iba’t ibang uri ng wildlife.

Samantala, ayon sa International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), ang naturang species ay kabilang sa kategoryang Least Concern (LC). Ibig sabihin, sa kasalukuyan ay hindi pa ito itinuturing na nanganganib maubos. Gayunpaman, binibigyang-diin ng mga eksperto ang kahalagahan ng patuloy na pagmamanman sa populasyon nito, lalo na sa harap ng mga banta tulad ng pagkasira ng natural na tirahan.

May mahalagang papel ang ahas na ito sa ecosystem. Bilang tagakontrol ng populasyon ng mga invertebrates, nakakatulong ito sa pagpapanatili ng balanse sa lupa at kapaligiran. Isa rin itong indikasyon ng isang malusog na ekosistema, dahil karaniwang matatagpuan ang ganitong uri sa mga lugar na hindi gaanong naaabuso.

Sa kabila ng pagiging hindi makamandag, nananatiling hamon ang maling pananaw ng ilan sa mga ahas, na kadalasang nauuwi sa kanilang pagpatay. Dahil dito, patuloy ang panawagan ng mga conservationist na palaganapin ang tamang kaalaman at pangangalaga sa wildlife upang maprotektahan ang mga species na may mahalagang ambag sa kalikasan.

Nagpahayag naman ng pasasalamat ang mga nagdokumento sa mga eksperto na tumulong sa tamang pagkakakilanlan ng ahas, kabilang sina Mr. Wally Suarez, Mr. Kyle Anadeo Tamayo, at Ms. BB-Cat Valentine.

Ulat ni Admin John Gil
📷 Feliciano Avila De Leon Jr.
Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines

16/04/2026

Finlayson’s squirrels (Callosciurus finlaysonii) are considered invasive species and were introduced to the Philippines, likely via the pet trade from their native countries in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam)

It's first reported sightings in Metro Manila. was in 2007. While some anecdotal reports suggest sightings in upscale villages in Makati as early as the 1980s or 1990s.

15/04/2026

Not all eagles are created equal 🦅 Learn to spot the difference between the Philippine Eagle and the South Philippine Hawk-Eagle—because identification matters.

22/02/2026