Rare Luzon Bleeding-Heart doves are now back in the Philippines after being under the care of Singapore conservation for 8 years.
The Luzon Bleeding-Heart is an endangered ground-dweller dove species that can only be found in the rainforest of the central and southern island of Luzon.
Just like with other Bleeding-Heart dove species, of which five are endemic to the Philippines, the rare birds are known for the “distinct splash of vivid red right at the center of its white breast, with a reddish hue extending down to their belly.”
The Luzon Bleeding-Heart was listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species as near-threatened because of deforestation. They are also prime targets for the pet trade because of their unique appearance and colorful plumage.
These are the reasons why two pairs of Luzon Bleeding-Hearts were sent to Singapore in 2012 after Jurong Bird Park, Avilon Zoo, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources inked an agreement for their conservation breeding program.
During their stay in Singapore, the Luzon Bleeding-Hearts successfully produced 60 offsprings.
Ten Luzon Bleeding-Hearts descendants of the original pairs brought to Singapore in 2012 were sent back to their homeland with the hope that they will produce and increase their number in the wilds of Luzon island.
The symbolic handover of the Philippine birds was held in Jurong Bird Park on August 19, 2020, and was attended by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph del Mar Yap.
The Luzon Bleeding-Hearts left Singapore on August 20 and are now under the care of the Department fo Environment and Natural Resources.
Before their release to a protected area in Luzon, the Philippine birds still need to complete their month-long quarantine.
In 2019, a male Philippine Eagle named Geothermica and his partner Sambisig were loaned to the Jurong Bird Park managed by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
Philippine Eagle Makilala Hiraya was recently safely returned to her home forest after almost two months under the care and protection of the Philippine Eagle Foundation.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the teams behind the return of the rare Luzon Bleeding-Heart doves to the Philippines.
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