Mt. Cleopatra’s Needle in Puerto Princesa declared ‘critical habitat’

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) on Monday declared Mt. Cleopatra's Needle in Puerto Princesa City as a critical habitat and a biodiversity conservation area.

The PCSD said the declaration was made to protect the mountain's different species of flora and fauna.

The Puerto Princesa City's local government unit said it fully supports the declaration.

"Gaya ng sa underground river although meron siyang economic aspect, hindi makakalimutan iyong environmental aspect kasi kung masisira ang environment, doon mawawala na rin ang benepisyo," City Mayor Lucilo Bayron said.

Mt. Cleopatra's Needle is one of the many tourist attractions in the city. It is also a mountaineering destination.

According to the Global Wildlife Conservation, the mountain's 40,000-hectare forest is a safe haven for unique and threatened species including the Philippine Cockatoo, the Palawan Forest Turtle, the Palawan Bearcat, Palawan Horned Frog, Palawan Toadlet, Philippine Flat-headed Frog and the Palawan Monitor Lizard.

"Approximately eighty-five percent of the long list of Palawan’s endemic mammals and birds can be found around Cleopatra’s Needle and together with the Underground River National Park, this is their last safe haven," the group said. —report from Ruth Rodriguez/ALG, GMA News