SAVE AN ENDANGERED SPECIE; ADOPT AN ANIMAL

ENDANGERED SPECIE:Rufous-headed hornbill (Roland Seitre)

SAVE AN ENDANGERED SPECIE; ADOPT AN ANIMAL

Do you know that in Bacolod City, Philippines there is a place wherein you can visit and see threatened endemic or endangered species of animals?

The first time I visited the place way back, I was amazed that The Negros Forest Ecological Foundation, Inc. – Biodiversity Conservation Center (NFEFI-BCC) found right beside the Capitol Lagoon is actually taking care of some of the world’s most threatened species; majority of which are found only in Negros and Panay and nowhere else in the world. 

Endangered specie: Visayan spotted deer (Godfrey Jakosalem)

The way the animals were taken cared of were evident that The Negros Forest ecological Foundation, Inc. truly is committed to save these threatened endemic species from extinction. According the management of the center they are working closely with the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc., the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and several international partners and for many years now, they had been successful in breeding these species and plan to eventually return the captive-bred individuals into their natural habitat. Meantime, while sites are still being evaluated for release about 100 animals are still being housed at the center.

Saving endangered species of animals from becoming extinct is crucial especially for our next generation. As species are lost so too are our options for future discovery and advancement.

Endangered specie:Maral at the NFEFI-BCC (William Oliver)

Your opportunity to Participate

Now is the time for you to participate to this worthy cause. The Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation (NFEFI), has launched an animal adoption program. The Adopt an Animal Program is open to Individuals, schools, corporations and clubs to adopt one (or more) of the many threatened animals kept at the Biodiversity Conservation Center (NFEFI-BCC) in Bacolod City. By doing so they will be helping to maintain a safe haven for threatened species.

The mechanic for the program is very simple. For just P33 a day, adopters can play a vital role in helping to save threatened species by providing funds to enable the NFEFI-BCC to continue to provide world-class care of these animals. 

Here’s more for you, should you decide to participate in the program, you will be given  a welcome pack featuring an adoption certificate, an image and fact sheet of the chosen animal; quarterly updates about the adoptive animal; free access to the NFEFI-BCC, 20 visitor passes  acknowledgments at the BCC and on the group’s website.  In addition, adopters can go behind the scenes for a private meet-and-greet with the chosen animal or bird. 

 

Endangered species: (L-R) Negros bleeding-heart pigeon and Visayan tarictic hornbill (Godfrey Jakosalem) 

Adoptions run for one year. The monthly cost of P1,000 per animal or bird will cover its food, supplements, veterinary care, enrichment and improvements in the animal’s enclosure.  

As of this writing, animals and birds available for adoption include Visayan spotted deer, Visayan warty pig, Visayan leopard cat and Large Flying Fox; Rufous-headed hornbill, Visayan tarictic hornbill, Southern rufous hornbill, Negros bleeding-heart pigeon, Luzon bleeding-heart pigeon, buff-eared brown dove, metallic wood pigeon, pink-bellied imperial pigeon, Philippine cockatoo, white-bellied woodpecker, Philippine eagle-owl, Luzon hawk-owl and Philippine hawk-eagle and the rare Philippine sailfin lizard .

So in your next visit to Bacolod City , try to visit the Negros Forest Ecological Foundation, Inc – Biodiversity Conservation Center. They welcome donations, however small. Every centavo goes to the center’s work of protecting and conserving some of the world’s most vulnerable animals. Biodiversity Conservation Center

Getting There

The Negros Forest and Ecological Foundation is located at the South Capitol Road, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. It is just right beside the Capitol Provincial Building and Capitol Lagoon.
For more information, Please contact NFEFI-BCC’s curator Dr. Joanne Justo on (034) 433-9234 or visit http://www.negrosforests.org/