Posted on: 15 August, 2024
One of five species of bleeding-heart dove endemic to the different islands of the Philippines, Negros bleeding-heart doves are ground-dwelling birds native to Negros and Panay islands. They are characterised by a vivid red or orange patch on the breast plumage, that looks similar to a bleeding heart.
Once an abundant species in the forests on these islands, their numbers began to decline by the 1930s due to post-war logging. With 90% of forests now gone on the islands of Negros and Panay, the shrinking forest fragments continue to be cleared for timber and to make way for plantations and crops, despite ongoing efforts from conservation bodies. Experts believe fewer than 250 individuals remain in the wild, however with the continual devastation of their habitat, actual numbers are likely to be much lower than this.
The Negros bleeding-heart doves are a flagship species for our Philippines conservation programme and since 2014 we have been working to protect this species and its habitat. We have sponsored a reforestation program, worked with local communities to diversify livelihoods to reduce human pressure on the forests, and conducted surveys to monitor populations.
Since 2018 we have been working with Philippine Initiative for the Conservation of Environment and the People (PhilinCon) to protect the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP), a 120-km2 area of primary rainforest, and home to many endemic and threatened species such as the Visayan warty pig, the Visayan tarictic hornbill and the Negros bleeding-heart dove.
Since 2022 we have been working with PhilinCon on a Darwin Initiative-funded project to reduce illegal hunting of the Visayan warty pig in the NPPNP, which also contributes to wider habitat protection efforts and future conservation plans that benefit the Negros bleeding-heart dove.
On top of working to protect the species in its natural habitat, we are also supporting conservation breeding efforts with the Talarak Foundation and Silliman University’s Centre for Tropical Conservation Studies (CenTrop), two of only three facilities to currently house this bird, as part of our integrated conservation strategy for the species.
An understudied species, we have conducted and supported much of the published research on its ecology, helping to inform conservation actions. Our experts provide scientific advice to improve conservation breeding practices, including advising on animal husbandry and management techniques to allow for increased expression of natural behaviours, which improves the welfare of the birds and their suitability for reintroduction into the wild.
At our Bristol Zoo Project site in South Gloucestershire, we house a pair of Mindanao bleeding-heart doves (Gallicolumba crinigera) which are a closely related species from nearby Mindanao Island in the Philippines. Although not as highly threatened as the Negros bleeding-heart dove their numbers are declining in the wild and they are great ambassadors for the conservation of their Critically Endangered counterpart, as our visitors get to learn about our work in the Philippines during their time at the zoo.
Bristol Zoological Society is heavily involved in the conservation and protection of this species too, leading the way in species survival programmes and practices, with a number of the team involved in the pigeon and dove Taxon Advisory Group (TAG), including Head of Zoo Animals, Nigel Simpson, who is chair for the advisory group as part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
Our Curator of Birds Sheldon Wetton is the coordinator of the breeding programme for all bleeding-heart dove species in Europe (European Ex-Situ Programme – EEP), being responsible for managing the bleeding-heart dove populations across EAZA member zoos, which also includes the Negros bleeding-heart dove.
Future plans for our Philippines conservation programme include continued monitoring of the Negros bleeding-heart dove in NPPNP, and population and habitat surveys across the islands of Negros and Panay to identify areas where the species may still occur, as well as to scope out areas that may be suitable for future reintroductions. We also plan to continue supporting our partners to improve conservation breeding practices, ensuring the long-term sustainability of captive populations and maximising their suitability for reintroduction programmes.
Photo 1, 2 and 4 credit: Dylan McKenzie, Researcher at Talarak Foundation
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