Milestone repatriation of the critically endangered Negros bleeding-heart pigeons from Singapore to the Philippines

The birds arrived at the conservation facility in Negros Forest Park, Bacolod, Philippines, where they will remain under the care of Talarak Foundation Inc, a conservation non-governmental organisation leading the efforts to preserve and restore the endemic and threatened wildlife of the West Visayas region. Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Negros Occidental officer-in-charge Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya and officials from the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau, Her Excellency Constance See, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Philippines, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, were amongst the esteemed guests present to celebrate the historic arrival of the birds in Bacolod today.

Marcial C. Amaro, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Biodiversity and concurrent Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau, expressed his deepest gratitude to Mandai Wildlife Group, Mandai Nature, Talarak Foundation Inc., and all other partners who played a pivotal role in the historic repatriation of ten (10) Negro bleeding-heart pigeons (Gallicolumba keayi). ASEC Amaro emphasised that the conservation breeding programme at Bird Paradise in Singapore exemplifies how conservation efforts transcend borders, establishing a crucial insurance population to safeguard the Critically Endangered Negros bleeding-heart pigeon from extinction. These birds symbolise hope for the species’ survival and underscore the need to restore wildlife populations and protect the natural environment for future generations.

With support from the DENR and Talarak Foundation Inc., the first conservation breeding programme and insurance population for the Negros bleeding-heart pigeon was established outside the Philippines when three pairs were sent to Singapore in September 2021. The ten individuals repatriated to the Philippines are the progenies of these original pairs.

Matthew Ward, Executive Director, Talarak Foundation Inc., said, “We are so happy to see this species adopted into a breeding programme outside the Philippines. The previous captive breeding programme for the Negros bleeding-heart pigeon was solely within the Talarak Foundation and Silliman University, both institutions on Negros Island. This created a high risk for the species, as disease, typhoons and natural disasters could effectively eliminate the entire captive population. We are delighted that the breeding programme at Mandai Wildlife Group’s Bird Paradise has been so successful. It is not only producing more individuals for the global population of the species, in a new location which can add an insurance population from Negros Island, but these birds are also acting as ambassadors for their wild counterpart conservation needs.”

The conservation breeding programme at Singapore’s Bird Paradise successfully hatched 19 chicks, with the first emerging on 26 November 2021. The Negros bleeding-heart is one of three insurance colonies of species endemic to the Philippines at Bird Paradise which also includes the Philippine eagle and Philippine cockatoo. Insurance populations safeguard threatened species against extinction under human care to increase the chances of the species’ survival in the long term while the threats in their habitats are dealt with. 

There are currently 14 other Negros bleeding-heart pigeons at Bird Paradise, where they will remain as part of the conservation breeding programme for further breeding and potential repatriation. Some of the birds are also housed in an aviary at Bird Paradise’s Winged Sanctuary where guests can observe them up close and learn about their unique characteristics, conservation efforts, and the importance of protecting these remarkable species.

Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, Deputy CEO of Life Sciences and Operations and Chief of Life Sciences, Mandai Wildlife Group, said, "The return of these critically endangered birds is of significance to us. As threats such as climate change, habitat destruction, and illegal wildlife trade continue to escalate, many species including the Negros bleeding-heart pigeon face an uncertain future. The insurance colony and breeding programme at Bird Paradise creates a safety net for the species by maintaining a robust population in human care. Zoos have a critical responsibility to work with partners to protect species beyond their natural habitats and play a key role in preventing extinction. Together with our conservation arm, Mandai Nature, we aim to increase the number of conservation-dependent species in our wildlife parks, strengthening our commitment to making a meaningful impact on threatened species in Southeast Asia."

There are five species of bleeding-heart pigeons endemic to the Philippines – the Negros, Mindanao, Sulu, Mindoro and Luzon bleeding-hearts, named after the islands they come from. Each species is distinguished by the iconic red splash on its chest, a unique feature of the bleeding-heart pigeons. Bird Paradise is the only zoological institution in the world to house three of them – the Negros, Mindanao, and Luzon bleeding-hearts.

Mandai Wildlife Group and Mandai Nature also support in-situ conservation efforts in Negros Island carried out by Talarak Foundation Inc. In 2019, together with other key partners, Mandai Nature co-supported a conservation workshop that saw the development of a One-Plan Approach action plan for the species. The One-Plan Approach is a holistic and collaborative strategy where various organisations and communities jointly create a unified plan for protecting a species or ecosystem, combining resources and expertise to increase the chances of success in conservation efforts.

The conservation efforts for the Negros bleeding-hearts are multi-faceted, involving multiple zoos, including Toledo Zoo and Bristol Zoo Gardens, the IUCN Pigeon and Dove Specialist Group, all working hand in hand to support the implementation of the plan to safeguard the species. In-situ efforts include the management of the Bayawan Nature Reserve which is focused on the sustainability of wildlife and habitat restoration and fostering community support through education and livelihood development. Additionally, they develop capacity-building programmes to nurture future conservationists.