FEU to publish book on tamaraw

MANILA, Oct. 5 (PNA) - Private institution Far Eastern University (FEU) will publish what might be the country's first compilation of data on the tamaraw, a four-legged mammal endemic to Mindoro Island but vanishing.

"We plan to launch this book in October 2009 during the next observance of Tamaraw Month," FEU Vice-President for Planning and Development Dr. Elizabeth Melchor announced Friday at the university's conference center during a forum on the tamaraw.

She said FEU will source from government and the private sector as much data as it can about the tamaraw and compile them into a book that people can use and help save this animal from extinction.

There is continuing concern about how to increase the tamaraw population as experts reported this dropped from some 10,000 heads around 1900 to about 250 heads today.

The reason for the population drop is the unabated hunting in the 1900s when such activity was considered a "gentlemen's game," according to experts.

Tamaraws look similar to the carabao, the Philippines' national animal.

"The difference is tamaraws are smaller, darker, have shorter tails and V-shaped horns," said Dr. Antonio Manila, chief of Wildlife Resources Division, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

FEU participates in DENR's activities on protecting and saving the animal, e.g. the yearly tamaraw population count in Mindoro Island.