DENR forgot the tamaraw

[GLT]

DENR forgot the tamaraw


Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:30:00 06/18/2009

Filed Under: Environmental Issues, Animals



THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources committed a very
grave sin of omission by not including the tamaraw (Bubalus
mindorensis) in its full-page color advertisement with the heading
“Let Us Save Our Natural Resources,” (Inquirer, 6/5/09).

The ad featured the Philippine eagle, Philippine tarsier, Mouse deer,
Rafflesia, Pandaka pygmea and the whale but not the tamaraws of
Mindoro which we can truly be proud of because we are the only country
in the whole world which has this rare creature.

Please note that the Philippines cannot truly be proud of the tarsier
and the Rafflesia because other countries in Southeast Asia have them.

So to the DENR officials who prepared this advertisement here’s a
request: Please do not forget the tamaraws especially now that it is
already on the verge of extinction. The latest head count placed the
tamaraw population at only a little over 200 (from 10,000 in the
1900s).
—PAUL R. MORTEL,
MBLA Court, Malanday,
Marikina City