A Mindanao treeshrew, an endemic mammal known locally as “tingkolit,” was sighted at Mt. Apo Natural Park during a biodiversity Monitoring System survey.

Park personnel and student trainees from the University of Southern Mindanao documented the species using box traps designed for small non-volant mammals.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN (DENR-12), the tingkolit was observed previously in lower montane forests before it was recorded in a mid-montane area within a different monitoring site.

DENR-12 said the discovery suggests the species may occupy a broader elevational range that earlier recorded.

“The finding points to the species’ adaptability and highlights the importance of continued field monitoring across varying forest zones,” DENR-12 said.

Endemic to Mindanao, the Mindanao treeshrew is a diurnal mammal that feeds on insects, fruits, and small invertebrates. It plays an important ecological role as both an insect regulator and seed disperser, contributing to forest regeneration and ecosystem balance.

“The continued presence of the tingkolit remains an important indicator of a healthy and functioning forest ecosystem in Mt. Apo Natural Park,” DENR-12 added.