SULU GARDEN FOUNDATION AND WVSU-CAF DISCUSS COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
April 7, 2022
Sulu Garden Foundation’s (SGF) President, Dr. Jonathan Rey F. Matias, with SGF’s Vice President, Ms. Araceli Q. Adrias and their Senior Research Officer, Norielle Diamante, went to visit the West Visayas State University – College of Agriculture and Forestry (WVSU-CAF), Lambunao Campus last April 7, 2022.
They met with the Campus Administrator of WVSU-CAF, Dr. Dominador L. Lisao together with the Director of the WVSU Wildlife Conservation Center, Dr. JB Ian G. Bullo, and the IZN focal person, For. Rod Reynan G. Laspiñas.
The SGF President, Dr. Matias; Vice President, Ms. Adrias, WVSU-CAF Campus Admin, Dr. Lisao; WVSU Wildlife Conservation Center Director, Dr. Bullo and IZN Focal Person, Forester Laspiñas discussing about conservation efforts for the center
The main agenda was a discussion on a collaboration between the two parties for the protection and conservation of the threatened wildlife species currently in captivity in WVSU’s Mari-it Wildlife and Conservation Park. The WVSU-CAF team presented the data and the condition of the conservation center to identify specific points both parties may collaborate on.
According to news article written by Forester Laspiñas, at present, the center is home to seven (7) wildlife species which include the Visayan Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides panini), Walden’s Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni), Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons), Visayan Spotted Deer (Rusa alfredi), Visayan Leopard Cat (Prionailurus javanensis sumatranus), Civet Cat (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The first four are all critically endangered and endemic in the Islands of Negros and Panay. WVSU-WCC is also known as the first facility that has successfully bred the species of Walden’s Hornbill in captivity. The center had also successfully produced a hatchling in 2020.
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Written by: Senior Science Officer, Norielle Diamante (See profile)