Rare deer found on Philippine island: scientists

Thu May 28, 4:02 am

MANILA (AFP) – One of the world's rarest deer has been found in a tiny patch of Philippines forest that is being cut down by farmers and loggers, according to a British-Filipino scientific expedition.

The team said it "found fresh deer droppings, deer tracks and evidence of feeding activity" by the Visayan spotted deer during the group's three-week sortie into Mount Mandalagan in the north of Negros island last month.

"This is a critically important find to discover such an important animal alive and well in its natural habitat," expedition leader James Sawyer said in a statement released after the British members' return to London.

Not much larger than a dog, the short-legged, rainforest-dwelling deer that feeds at night is the largest endemic species of the west Visayan islands.

It is notable for its distinctive pattern of buff-coloured spots scattered across its dark brown back and sides.

Cervus alfredi are found only in the central Philippines and before the herds dwindled through heavy hunting and rapid habitat loss, they were present on the islands of Cebu, Guimaras, Leyte, Masbate, Negros, Panay and Samar.

Only a few hundred are now thought to remain on Panay and Negros due to intensive hunting and extensive deforestation as land is cleared for farming.

The northern Negros herds themselves had not been seen "for many years," according to the expedition statement.

The expedition also proved that "Philippine forests still harbour many rare and unique species, found nowhere else in the world," said the team's research leader Craig Turner.

The forest, which comprises the core of the protected North Negros Natural Park, is described by the expedition as "a biodiversity hotspot of great importance" and "one of the top 10 most vulnerable forest ecosystems globally".

The team said it would present its findings at Britain's Royal Geographical Society on September 3.

Text and Photo from Yahoo News dated May 28, 2009

BACOLOD CITY

Bacolod City is the gateway to the province of Negros Occidental, often referred to as the land of genteel people and large sugar plantations.

Authentic 1912 steam locomotives and well preserved ancestral homes serve as reminders of the sugar barons and rich spanish families of the past.

Negros Occidental wealth has always been in its land, its charm in its people and its pride in its cuisine.

The land is where the wealth of the province originated and continues to emulate. The once lucrative sugar industry has started to give way to other profitable industries like prawn culture, cutflower and handicraft exports.  Negros Occidental blessed with one beautiful natural scenery, unexplored waterfalls and mountains white sand beaches and crystal springs.

Its people with their endearing lilting accent are known for their easygoing, old world charm and gracious hospitality. They have a natural knack for entertaining which is best experienced during the Masskara,  a Mardi Gras festival in October when there is merrymaking in the streets and parties at private homes in its capital, Bacolod. The people are also famous for thier unrivalled good taste which is evident in the exquisite arts and crafts that they produced or the local and export markets.

Negros Occidental's Cuisine is legendary.  Its mouth watering dishes ranks among te best that the island have to offer.  It is particularly popular for sugar-based food items and delicacies. the upscale restuarants to wayside eateries, one can sample the heavenly concoctions this land is famous for.  The Beautiful land, charming people and delectable cuisine - these elements make for a destination that is best when experienced.  

Bacolod and Negros Occidental promises to be a destination like no other - breath of fresh air, away form a harried pace of city life.

Photos By: Totogonzaga (fukuda interlink tokyo) and Kieron of yahoo photos.

Copy of the article courtesy of the Negros Island - Wow Negros Occidental Philippines.

NEGROS ISLAND

Negros Island was originally called "Buglas", an old native word hat is thought to mean "cut off".

It was believed that Negros was once part of a greater mass of land but was cut off either by what geologist call a continental drift or by the rising waters during the so called glacial age. Among its earliest inhabitants were dark-skinned natives beloning to the Negrito ethnic group with thier unique culture thus the Spaniards called the land "Negros" after the black natives whom they saw when they first came to the island in April 1565.

Two of the earliest settlements were Binalbagan and Ilog that later became towns in 1573 and 1584 respectively.  Other settlements were Hinigaran, Bago City, Marayo (now Pontevedra), Mamalan (now Himamaylan) and the Candaguit now a sitio in San Enrique.

After appointing encomienderos in the Island, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi placed Negros under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Oton in Panay Island.  In 1734, however, the island became a military district and Ilog was made its first Capital.  The seat of the government was later transferred to Himamaylan and thereafter Bacolod became the capital in 1849.                                                                                                                          

The island remained a military district up to about the middle of the 19th century. Then in 1865, Negros Occidental was raised to the category of a politico-ilitary province. During this time, several more towns were established like San Carlos and Calatrava.

Religious orders evangelized the province by turns: the Augustinians, Recollects, Jesuits, Dominicans, and the Seculars.

The latter half of the 19th Century was a period of rapid economic expansion for Negros Occidental as evidenced by the growth of population resulting from the influx of immigrants coming from the neighboring provinces like Ilo-ilo, Antique, Capiz and Cebu.  They settled in districts sparsely inhabited in the past and this resulted in the establishment of new towns: Saravia (now E.B. Magalona), Valladolid and Escalante in 1880.

The major boom of the Province at this time was the widespread cultivation of Sugarcane and the opening of the ports like those in Ilo-ilo and Cebu to foreign commerce.  In 1856, Negros Occidental produced only 4,000 piculs of sugar.  This increased to 100,000 piculs in 1864 and 2,000,000 in 1893.  The cultivation of sugarcane then became widespread and soon after Negros Occidental led other provinces in the production of sugar.  Modern machines were introduced at this time and by 1864, seven machines operated by steam were used in the towns of Bacolod, Minuluan (now Talisay City) and Bago.

During the last decades of the 19th Century, several important events occured in the history of Negros Occidental. One was the making of Negros into two separate provinces in 1890. 

The other was when Negrense Revolutionary troops led by Generals Aniceto Lacson and Juan Anacleto Araneta joined the nation wide Katipunan Movement and overcame the Spanish garrison in the Province in November 5, 1898 when Filipinos rose in arms against the Spanish rule.

The revolt ended more than 300 years of foreign domination. This resulted in the establishment of the shortlived "Cantonal Government of the Republic of Negros" which reunited the  two provinces until the Americans arrived in May 1899.  A civil government was established in Negros Occidental on April 20, 1901.

During the succeeding decades between 1901 and the 1930's Negros Occidental was under the American occupation as with the rest of the country.  Nonetheless, the econly growth continued especially with Philippine sugar having a part of the US market despite some accompanying socio-economic problems during this period.  When the Japanese landed in the province on May 21, 1942, civilian and military leaders in Negros Occidental refused to surrender and instead organized a free government and guerilla movement under Governor Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Negros Island.  They helped bring about the surrender of the Japanese forces in Negros Is. in 1945.

Text of the Article from the Brochure of Negros Island by Wow Negros Occ. Philippines