Calamian Deer, Calamian Hog Deer, Philippine Deer In Habitat

Calamian Deer, Calamian Hog Deer, Philippine Deer-Cervus porcinus calamianensis, Axis calamianensis

The Calamian deer is endemic in Busuanga, Calauit and Culion (group of islands at the northern tip of Palawan) islands. It is known locally as usa. Since Calamian deers are listed in Appendix I of CITES, their trade is subject to strict regulation. The Calamian deer is a beautiful animal, which is tawny brown in the head, lateral side of the neck and on the ventral side of the body. Its tail is characteristically short with white buffs of hair present on the ventral side of the tip. A 70-80 cm tall adult Calamian deer weighs 30-35 kg while a newborn weighs about 1 kg. Only male Calamian deers have antlers. Calamian deers are largely threatened by shrinking habitat and illegal hunting and collection. Rural folks fancy the meat of Calamian deer resulting in their over hunting. In 1976, a Presidential Proclamation was signed by then President Marcos establishing the Calauit Island Game Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, which were thought to protect the wildlife species in this island.

Calamian Deer Feamale

However, it turned out that the sanctuary was not intended to provide haven to the native animals there but instead to accommodate the African wildlife species donated by the Kenyan government to Marcos. Contrary to the belief that the introduction of alien species of animals into a certain place can have long term negative effects on native animals(Janetos, 1997), the Calamian deers and other wildlife species survived despite the presence of the African species. In fact, the population of the Calamian deer increased dramatically from 35 in 1977 to about 550 in 1991 (Panol, F. W., 1986).

Other Calamian deer conservation measures included the international cooperative breeding program established by an agreement between DENR and the Zoological Society of San Diego (Oliver, 1996). The Zoological Society of San Diego provided financial support to the project. The Calauit Island Game Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary is threatened by the residents who have returned to the Calauit Island to reclaim their lands when Marcos was toppled from power in 1987.

Calamian Deer Male

These people were displaced from their lands when the wildlife sanctuary was established in 1976. When they returned to the island they brought with them animals, which may serve as reservoir of infectious diseases that endanger not only the Calamian deers in the area but also other wildlife species. It is surprising to note that not much basic information about the Calamian deers is available in the literature.

For example the hematology, temperature and respiratory and pulse rates important in disease diagnosis are not yet established in this species. Studies along these lines should therefore be encouraged. The skull (Maala et al., 1990) and vertebral column (Maala et al., 1992) of the Calamian deer have been described. Some external and gastro-intestinal parasites such as Damalinia sp., Strongyloides sp., Oesophagostomum sp., Bunostomum sp. and Monieza sp. have been identified in Calamian deers.