The Program Focus
The Mari-it Conservation Centre is located in central Panay Island (“mari-it” means “enchanted place” in Cebuano). The Centre is on the College of Agriculture & Forestry campus of the West Visayas State University (WVSU), and adjacent to the proposed 40,000ha Central Panay Mountains National Park (first proposed in 1986 following an extensive survey for the Philippine Spotted Deer, but yet to be promulgated), underscoring its value as a vehicle to support community awareness and protection in the mountains. This is the only facility focusing on Panay’s threatened wildlife and is playing a crucial role in securing viable populations of key threatened species to support reintroductions proposals that will proceed in the next few years.
Project Plan
The Mari-it Conservation Centre (MCC) was established in 1993 as part of a broader strategy to address growing concerns about biodiversity loss in the West Visayas. Two other conservation breeding centers were established on the neighbouring island of Negros in the same period. A major driver in the creation of these centers was the region-wide surveys in 1985 and 1987 for the Visayan Spotted Deer (Cervus alfredi), which showed that this species was mainly confined to four forest patches on Negros and Panay Islands - the most threatened species of deer in the world.
This suite of breeding centers was created by FFI-Philippines as the first step in a long-term plan to secure wild populations of threatened West Visayan fauna in protected areas. Recognising the immense pressures on wild populations and habitats, it was necessary to establish and manage viable captive populations to enable wild releases to proceed once appropriate field sites had been located and the necessary community support and participation had been secured. The hunting pressure in some areas is so high that local species extirpations will likely occur, underlining the importance of captive populations in order to secure the survival of threatened endemic species.
Zoos Victoria's role
In 1999, Melbourne Zoo signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University to support the operation of Mari-it for conservation. Under this Agreement, ZV provides technical advice, relevant materials (publications and reports), advocacy for the Centre, and funds to enable employment of a full-time assistant to the Program Manager.
Key Achievements
Significant success have been achieved since this program commenced:
Successful breeding and knowledge increase for all five priority species.
Detailed records and studbooks maintained for the five priority species and intensive management to maintain genetic diversity.
World first breeding of Walden's Hornbill in 2006 and Blue-crowned Racquet-tail Parrots in 2007.
Establishment of food crops on the WVSU campus to minimize the Centre's running costs.
Training of local people in animal management and intensive food production.
Strengthened collaboration with the two breeding centers on Negros Island, including transfer of animals and exchange of staff.
Increased awareness of wildlife and conservation, both in Lambunao and the nearby mountain communities.
Three potential release sites identified in northern Panay.
Forward Priorities
This program's overriding priority for the coming years is finalise the release and habitat protection program in northern Panay Island. ZV will be facilitating this process with our other partners.
