Elusive tamaraw spotted anew in Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro

The elusive and critically endangered tamaraw has been spotted again in the mountains of Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro.

According to Kuya Kim Atienza's “24 Oras” report on Tuesday, drone footage captured the rare animal during a verification survey conducted in the area by the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Tamaraw Conservation Program, the Mindoro Biodiversity Corridor, and Thriving Together Tamaraw.

The team said that they last detected signs of a tamaraw population in the town of Sta. Cruz in 2018.

“Ang nakita lamang ng team ng DENR po noon ay bakas ng mga yapa, 'yung mga hoof marks po,” said Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro Acting MENR Officer Aina Krizia Sy-Viray.

"Doon sa ginawang further verification, nakita po natin doon 'yung tinatawag nilang bulausan o 'yung wallowing area ng mga tamaraw. Meron ding mga dumi tamaraw as indicators." 

Per Sy-Viray, it was there in the area where the actual sighting of the tamaraw happened. 

“Isa po itong indikasyon na maganda pa po ang ating mga kapaligiran at  likas-yaman,” she said.

"Dito rin po nakikita 'yung natural heritage ng Mindoro, Lalo na po sa Sta. Cruz despite climate change and other natural hazards ay nagpapakita na talagang may katatagan din po." 

The tamaraw, a dwarf buffalo species endemic to Mindoro, stands at about 3.5 feet tall and resembles a smaller version of the carabao.

Despite being considered the smallest buffalo species in the world, it is recognized as the largest native land mammal in the Philippines, explained Kuya Kim. It is distinguished by its V-shaped horns—present in both males and females—which are used for defense. 

Unlike domesticated cattle, tamaraws are solitary animals that typically roam alone and maintain their own territories.

Their population was once estimated at around 10,000 in the early 1900s, but wildlife biologist Jay Fidelino said that it has drastically declined to only about 200 to 300 in the wild today. 

Most tamaraws can be found in Mt. Iglit–Baco National Park in Occidental Mindoro. Historically, the species was also believed to have roamed parts of Luzon and the Visayas. 

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News