Arctictis Binturong Conservation (AB Conservation) Foundation Inc. has conducted information campaign activities in Sitio Manggapin, Barangay Langogan urging local community members to protect a mammal known as Arctictis binturong, commonly known as Bearcat, which is present in this interior village.
This mammal is a viverrid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is uncommon in much of its range, and has been assessed as Vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List because of a declining population trend.
Arctictis Binturong Conservation (AB Conservation) based in France is the first and only organization dedicated to the Bearcat advocacy.
Present during the activity were Ernesto Sarangaya and Ameline Rogers, AB Conservation Foundation Inc. president and chairman, respectively. Local officials such as the SK and indigenous peoples officials in the locality.
Both Tagbanua and Batak were dominant population in Sitio Manggapin.
Elea Delsaux, scientific project manager, said that a bearcat considered as a little known mammal with a very few studies about the species. The majority of available data on its behavior, reproduction or diet comes from studies in captivity.
AB Conservation said that the main reason why scientists are reluctant to study this animal is that the binturong is particularly difficult to observe because of its natural behavior. Indeed, as it lives between 10 and 20 meters high and is mostly active at night.
AB Conservation studied in the forest of Irawan and as well as other areas in Puerto Princesa City and in El Nido town.
They put camera traps and traps in an attempt to catch binturong, the purpose of which is to study its habits and behavior for period of six months. However, binturong considered as nocturnal mammals that stayed at the tree of more than 20 meters high. They described binturongs as not only nocturnal but also elusive that they are unable to catch them for purposes of study and observation.
Sarangaya, the AB Conservation Foundation Inc president said that they will continue to campaign to raise awareness and improve environmental education on binturong.
