Dumaguete: The Talarak Foundation, Inc. underscored the critical importance of wildlife captive breeding and bolstered conservation efforts to safeguard endangered species, particularly in the Visayas region, during a recent event.
According to Philippines News Agency, Matt Ward, the executive director of Talarak Foundation, Inc., emphasized the concept of 'breeding conservation' at the inauguration of the two-day 9th National Wildlife Quiz and Festival held at the Macias Sports Center in Dumaguete. Ward addressed students and educators, advocating that conservation initiatives can be effectively implemented both in the wild and within captive breeding environments. He highlighted that when wildlife species face threats in their natural settings, captive conservation becomes a viable strategy for their survival.
Captive conservation involves the protection of species outside their natural environments in regulated spaces such as zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, and seed banks. Ward pointed out the necessity of this approach, especially when natural habitats like forests are destroyed, leaving animals without refuge. He stressed that without intervention, these animals face the risk of extinction. Captive conservation offers a secure setting for these species to reproduce until they can be reintroduced into the wild.
Talarak Foundation, Inc., based in Negros, focuses on breeding and maintaining endangered endemic species for eventual release back into their natural habitats. Among the endangered species in Negros are the Visayan Warty Pig, Visayan hornbill, and the Negros bleeding heart pigeon.
In conjunction with these conservation efforts, the 9th Wildlife Quiz is underway, with participation from 31 schools across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The event is hosted at the Macias Sports Complex and Silliman University. Since its inception in 2016, the National Wildlife Quiz (NWQ) has evolved into a significant environmental education platform in the Philippines, engaging thousands of students and educators nationwide.
The NWQ supports crucial Philippine policies, including Republic Act 9512, which designates November as Environmental Awareness Month and promotes environmental education; Republic Act 9147 on wildlife protection; and the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2015-2028, which integrates biodiversity into education. It also aligns with commitments to the Kunming-Montreal Framework that stresses youth empowerment in preventing biodiversity loss by 2030.
The event is organized with the collaboration of First Gen-owned Energy Development Corporation (First Gen-EDC), PhilBio, and key stakeholders such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Education - Negros Oriental, and the provincial government. The festival is themed 'Know Nature, Know Future: Empowering Wildlife Champions.' Engr. Noel Tan, head of the EDC Southern Negros geothermal plants, highlighted the company's support for conservation efforts, citing the rich biodiversity and presence of threatened species in their operational areas.
