The population of the critically endangered tamaraw, a dwarf buffalo found only in the Philippines, has increased in Mindoro, offering fresh hope for the survival of one of the country’s rarest wildlife species.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the latest annual count recorded 425 tamaraws in Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park, up nearly 12% from the 380 documented last year. The survey was conducted in April by the Tamaraw Conservation Program Office.
The tamaraw is endemic to Mindoro and is listed as critically endangered due to decades of habitat loss, hunting, and disease. More than 80% of the remaining wild population lives within Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park, making the protected area critical to the species’ survival.
The DENR attributed the increase to sustained conservation efforts, including habitat protection, anti-poaching patrols, scientific monitoring, and collaboration with Indigenous communities and conservation partners.
While the latest figures mark encouraging progress, conservationists say continued protection will be essential to ensure the long-term recovery of the species, which once numbered in the thousands but declined sharply during the 20th century.
