Occurrence and Distribution of Philippine Warty Pig (Sus philippensis Nehring, 1886) in Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas, Luzon Island, Philippines

Abstract

This study determined the occurrence and distribution of Philippine warty pig (Sus philippensis) in Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas using camera trapping and indirect signs. The Philippine warty pig is an endemic species of wild pig in the Philippines and is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of the presence of several threats such as hunting, habitat fragmentation, and the current outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). Camera trap stations were established with 10 camera traps functioning 24 h for 17 d along different elevations. Different species distribution models (BIOCLIM, DOMAIN, and MAXENT) were constructed using 19 bioclimatic predictors to determine the potential distribution of the species in Mt. Banahaw. Results from three different SDMs suggested that Philippine warty pigs prefer to occupy secondary growth forests, as a high probability of occurrence was observed within 600–800 m above sea level (masl). Models also predicted that Philippine warty pigs occupy large portions of Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas, although sparsely in the extreme southern and northern sections of the mountain. The most reliable model that predicted the distribution of the species was MAXENT, as it acquired the highest area under curve (AUC) among the three SDMs. This study confirmed the presence of Philippine warty pigs in Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas and its preferred habitat. The data and information generated here will be useful for the local community’s plans in conserving and managing this endemic species. Additional recommendations also include investigating the population size within and outside the protected area and establishing baseline data to assess the impact of ASF.