Wild Pigs and Pig Bombs

Wild pigs once are abundant in the forests of Palawan. But with an ingenious device, the "pig bomb" as the locals call it, the wild pig population was almost wiped out.

Here's the story.

More on mammals in Palawan here.

Remarkable Family Protecting A Patch of Reef

A family took the pains of protecting a patch of reef (or what's left of it after lots of destructive methods of fishing) in front of their simple home supported by posts piled through the soft sand.

After almost two decades of keeping the reef intact, marine life returned and thrived. Coral colonies grew and new recruits replaced the old ones. Likewise, reef fishes of various kinds lived and fed on the reef.

Family values do matter. More on this story here.

Symbiotic Relationship Between the Mouse Deer and the Python

The Balabac Mouse deer or Pilandok is a major protein source for the native Molbogs of Balabac Island, Palawan. Generally shy, the mouse deer takes refuge in burrows dug under trees. These underground holes become favorite habitats also to pythons, which appear to be ‘friendly’ with the mouse deer. Natives described the relationship mutual. Accordingly, when the mouse deer is hunted with the aid of dogs, and when the mouse deer takes refuge in its hole, the python lies in wait to prey on the dogs. There is a symbiotic relationship between the mouse deer and the python.

More on this story here.

People's Beliefs Determine Their Behavior Towards the Reefs

Once upon a time, when a fisher docked on Marangas Island to rest, a slither of snakes approached him and frightened the hell out of him. He was damn scared he jumped to his boat and paddled with all his might.


That incident went through the grapevine and from then on, nobody dared approached or fish near the island. The people believed that island was enchanted.

Recently, a group of SCUBA divers came to the area and noticed that rocky, but scenic island. Despite warning by the fisher-boat operator that the island is enchanted, the group explored the reef surrounding the island. Many large, tabulate corals were found, virtually untouched. The reefs were conserved because of people's belief that the place is enchanted. People's beliefs determine their behavior towards the reefs.

More on this story here.

How Much Can a Tourist Attraction Earn?

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Now a famous vacation destination in Palawan and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World Candidate, St. Paul's Subterranean River National Park or simply Underground River to many, is a major tourism earner. How much can a tourist attraction earn?

Details on how much this world wonder is worth at Trifter.

More on tourist attractions in Palawan here.

Mini-Tubbataha of Palawan

Once unknown to many, a reef thrived just a few minutes off a jetty in Honda Bay, Palawan. Now, it has become one of the major attractions of a day-long island hopping spree, a well-known itinerary of tourists. Visitors can snorkel and see what the local people dubbed as the Mini-Tubbataha of Palawan and rest on a sea turtle-shaped School-in-the-Seas project or Dalub-Karagatan of HOBBAI-ABS-CBN Project.

More on this new reef attraction in Trifter.

More about attractions in Palawan here.

Fearsome But Worth-Saving Reptile

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Crocodiles are always treated with disgust and fear because humans can fall victim to their unforgiving, powerful jaws that bite unfortunate victims with tons of force. Ecologically, however, crocodiles play a very important role, enriching the environment such that fish yield could significantly increase.

More on this fearsome but worth-saving reptile in Scienceray.

More on Palawan wildlife here.

The Mangrove Snake: Another Species in Peril?

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An ubiquitous species of mildly-venomous snake, the mangrove snake or gold-ringed cat snake (Boiga dendrophila) may be facing extinction due to increasing human activities in its habitat. Once easily seen in mangrove-lined rivers in Palawan, the mangrove snake is difficult to spot nowadays. Is the mangrove snake another species in peril?

More on this snake in Scienceray...

More on Palawan wildlife here.