Chenalin De Los Santos
The Visayan warty pig Sus cebifrons is one of the world's most endangered wild pig species. Having extirpated from 95% of its geographic range and only small, fragmented populations left in the wild, it is currently listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List. However, considering its conservation status, the species is generally poorly studied in the wild. Although the conservation programs for the Visayan warty pig have been doing well for the past years, research studies focusing on the ecology of the species are still relatively deficient.
An Adult S. cebifrons released at Bayawan Nature Reserve. © Talarak Foundation Inc.
Thus, this research intends to provide baseline information on the ecology of the population of S. cebifrons in Bayawan Nature Reserve, Negros Oriental, Philippines through a camera trapping method and transect survey.
Specifically, the research aims to determine their habitat use and habitat selection by:
(a) identifying the different habitat types and specifying the environmental variables through habitat assessment,
(b) quantifying habitat use with mapping location data
(c) inferring and analysing habitat selection using the collected environmental and response variables.
The study also seeks to provide information on their activity patterns, including comparisons of activity patterns between social groups. Ultimately, the result of the study will produce applicable recommendations for the management of the population in the nature reserve and relevant information for future reintroduction activities of the Visayan warty pigs.
Header: Aerial shot of the study area in Bayawan Nature Reserve in Sitio Dinapa, Brgy Nangka, Bayawan City, Negros Oriental © Talarak Foundation Inc.