Let's Adventure to Mindoro!

Justification This species has an extremely small, severely fragmented population which is undergoing a continuing decline owing to lowland forest destruction, combined with hunting and trade. For these reasons it is listed as Critically Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Columbidae

Species name author (Salvadori, 1891)

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 30 cm. Medium-sized, short-tailed, ground-dwelling pigeon. Small, bright orange central patch to otherwise white underparts. Dark grey crown, nape, upper mantle and breast-sides, glossed iridescent green. Dark chestnut rest of upperparts, glossed reddish-purple. Large, greyish-white tips to lesser and median wing-coverts. Grey tail and uppertail-coverts, latter with darker subterminal band and paler tip. Legs red. Voice Undocumented. Hints Feeds on the forest floor. Shy, tends to run from danger, typically only flying short distances when flushed.

Range & population Gallicolumba platenae is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, where it is known from 15 localities. Since 1980, there have been records from just four localities (Puerto Galera, MUFRC Experimental Forest, Siburan and Mt Iglit-Baco National Park), with unconfirmed local reports from eight other localities, suggesting that remnant populations conceivably exist elsewhere. It was common in the early 20th century and apparently locally common as recently as 1954. It was last recorded in 1991 from Sablayan. Subsequently, unconfirmed reports suggested it was common in the recent past in the extreme south of the island. However, the paucity of reports from hunters and very low encounter rate by fieldworkers suggests that numbers have become very low.

Ecology: This predominantly terrestrial pigeon inhabits closed-canopy primary and secondary lowland forest, preferring dry forest substrates on gentle slopes up to 750 m. It is not known whether or not it undertakes altitudinal, seasonal or nomadic movements. It has been recorded breeding in May.

Threats Lowland forest destruction has eradicated almost all of this bird's habitat. In 1988, just 120 km2 of forest remained on Mindoro, only 25% of which was closed-canopy. At current rates of loss, the island may lose all primary forest below 900 m within a few years. The forests at Siburan and Mt Iglit-Baco National Park are threatened by encroaching shifting cultivation and occasional selective logging. Rattan collection further disturbs the forest undergrowth. Dynamite-blasting for marble is a threat to forest at Puerto Galera. Hunting (using snares) for food and collection for the pet trade are additional threats, particularly during the dry season (February-May).

Conservation measures underway It occurs in Mt Iglit-Baco National Park, where only tiny forest tracts remain. The forest at Siburan is effectively part of the Sablayan Penal Colony, although it is uncertain how much protection is afforded by this, or its inclusion in the F. B. Harrison Game Reserve. Haribon have been working at the site for over five years and have established a site support group. Funding has been provided for faunal inventories and environmental education initiatives at Puerto Galera, where hunting has been locally prohibited. In the mid-1990s, the species featured on a bilingual environmental awareness poster in the "Only in the Philippines" series.

Conservation measures proposed Urgently produce a detailed map of remaining forests on Mindoro, and survey these systematically to clarify its current distribution and population status. Follow up any anecdotal reports of the species. Conduct ecological studies to assess its requirements for breeding and foraging. Produce a management plan for the forest at Siburan that reconciles biodiversity conservation with its role as a prison. Strengthen and support forest management by the Site Support Group at Siburan.

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