Philippines celebrates Tamaraw Month: Strengthening conservation, honoring commitments and partnerships

The Tamaraw Month celebration culminated on October 26 with renewed conservation commitments, a volunteer oath-taking, and recognition of key partners in a live-streamed event at the astrodome in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

In his opening remarks, Sablayan’s chief executive, Walter Marquez, emphasized the local responsibility toward tamaraw conservation: “With the tamaraw being endemic to the island, we carry the duty to protect them.”

He further acknowledged October as Indigenous Peoples’ Month, highlighting the inseparable link between the Mangyan people and the tamaraw, both integral to the province's identity and development.

This month also marked the 27th anniversary of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), enacted in alignment with the Local Government Code, which Marquez noted reinforces the collaborative roles of local governments, the private sector, and civil society in balancing tamaraw conservation with sustainable development.

The Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), a critically endangered bovine species found only on Mindoro Island, is emblematic of both cultural heritage and biodiversity.

Threats like poaching, habitat loss, and climate change endanger the species, with the population estimated to have been around 10,000 in the early 20th century.

A devastating rinderpest outbreak in the 1930s, however, reduced this number to about 100 by 1969, as noted by Felix Mirasol Jr., executive director of DENR MIMAROPA.

Today, the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP) estimates approximately 574 to 610 tamaraws remain in the wild, across three subpopulations in Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park (MIBNP), Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary, Upper Amnay Tamaraw Habitat, and the Aruyan-Malati Tamaraw Reservation.

This year, the official tamaraw count in MIBNP stands at 433, as reported by DENR-Mimaropa.

The celebration, themed “Tamaraw at Katutubo: Pamana at Likas Yaman, Patuloy na Pangalagaan,” also marks the 45th anniversary of the Tamaraw Conservation Program, originally established as the Presidential Committee for the Conservation of the Tamaraw in 1979.

Conservation Agreements

A series of conservation agreements were signed during the event to bolster tamaraw protection. Plans include the construction of a Tamaraw Ranger Station in Amnay, supported by the D’Aboville Foundation, a French-Filipino NGO working with the Mangyan community on environmental and eco-tourism initiatives in Mindoro.

An agreement among the indigenous Mangyan, the Sablayan LGU, and DENR also established Local Conservation Areas (LCA) for tamaraws in Amnay, allowing for continued research in these critical habitats. Additionally, a partnership with the Taobuid indigenous community will expand the tamaraw’s core habitat by over 600 hectares in MIBNP, extending the “Tamaraw Safe Zone,” where certain community activities will be restricted.

Another collaboration with the University of Santo Tomas will leverage Artificial Intelligence for advanced ecosystem monitoring, supporting more effective conservation practices.

Fifty students and young community leaders from the third annual Kabataan para sa Kalikasan (KALI) Camp took their oaths as ENR (Environment and Natural Resources) Youth Ambassadors, equipped to promote environmental conservation. KALI Camp is named after Kalibasib (Kalikasang Bagong Sibol), the last captive-bred tamaraw.

Sixty-two indigenous Mangyan volunteers, known as “Katutubong Bantay Tamaraw Barangay Bantay Tamaraw,” were officially deputized as Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEOs) and Environment and Natural Resources Officers (DENROs).

Local government units and NGOs provided essential supplies, including food packs, rain gear, headlamps, and mobile phones, to support these volunteers in their conservation work.

Far Eastern University announced 10 new scholarship grants for children of tamaraw rangers and indigenous communities, emphasizing their commitment to supporting conservation families.

Additionally, under the DENR’s “Handog Titulo Program,” land titles were awarded to 95 beneficiaries, fostering sustainable development alongside conservation.

The DENR also recognized local government units, indigenous organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions as vital partners in tamaraw conservation. Four Tamaraw Rangers received special commendations for over 25 years of dedicated service to the Tamaraw Conservation Program.

To commemorate the occasion, a digital unveiling of the upcoming Tamaraw Conservation and Research Center’s design was presented. The event also featured a symbolic solidarity painting of a tamaraw mural, designed by L.I.K.H.A. (Leaders of Integrous, Kindred of Honorable Artists), a local association of artists founded in 2023 with LGU support.

The program concluded with the ceremonial handover of hosting responsibilities for the 2025 Tamaraw Month celebration from Sablayan to Calintaan, underscoring the collective commitment to protecting the tamaraw for future generations.