Google is calling for the preservation of the Philippines’ Puerto Princesa Underground River with a Doodle art bannering the search engine’s homepage on June 30.
The special Doodle that features the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, illustrates the entrance of the underground river as it welcomes a small boat of sightseers.
The 8.2-kilometer underground waterway is one of the longest in the world and one of the few that flows into the sea, creating the largest subterranean estuary in the world.
In a media release sent to Good News Pilipinas, Google said the newest Doodle featuring the Philippines marks the 7th year since the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park was named as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
The Puerto Princesa Underground River Google Doodle made by artist David Lu does not only aim to celebrate the ecological wonder but also calls on people to continue to do their part for the preservation of the popular travel destination in Palawan, voted many times as the best island in the world.
The world-renowned underground river has the following unique features:
- a 24-kilometer matrix of caves
- unique habitat that houses more than 800 endemic plant and animal species
- home to a few critically-endangered species including the Philippine cockatoo, Hawksbill turtle, green sea turtle, and Nordmann’s greenshank
- home to giant spiders, crabs, fish, and snakes, as well as bats, swallows, and fossils dating back millions of years
It was on June 30, 2012 when Ramsar Convention, an international body created for the conservation of important wetlands, designated the Puerto Princesa Underground River as “unique in the biogeographic region because it connects a range of important ecosystems from the mountain-to-the-sea, including a limestone karst landscape with a complex cave system, mangrove forests, lowland evergreen tropical rainforests, and freshwater swamps.”
“We are glad to showcase one of the country’s most treasured natural wonders through a special Doodle on the Puerto Princesa Underground River,” said Interim Country Manager for Google Philippines Ben King in the Google report.
“Aside from celebrating the destination, we hope that this effort serves as a reminder to do our part in conserving it,” King added.
Google Philippines recently marked the country’s 121st Independence Day on June 12 with a Doodle featuring the Philippine flag.
On June 19, Google Doodle honored the Philippines’ national hero, Jose Rizal, on his 158th birth anniversary.
READ MORE: Glaiza de Castro sings for heritage preservation
TELL US in the comments below your own ideas on how to protect Palawan’s Underground River!
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