Locations

Rasa Island

Rasa is a small coral island situated in the Sulu Sea, just offshore of the Municipality of Narra, Palawan, in the south-western Philippines. Coastal forest and mangroves cover the island although some areas have noticeably been converted to coconut plantations. The marine ecosystems of Rasa is comprised of sandy beaches, rocky shores, Tidal flats, seagrass and algae beds, soft bottom areas, coral reefs and open water. The tidal zone is dominated by mostly dense stands of mangroves and the coastal forest holds more than one hundred shrub and tree species that have been feeding, roosting and breeding grounds for birds.

Due to lack of potable water on the island, only 3 families inhabit it although the indigenous Tagbanuas frequently visit the island to harvest crops and gather some of the island's resources. The island still has thick vegetations apart from some parts that have been cleared to make way for coconut plantations. Mangrove cutting and logging, which have been prevalent in the past decades, are in a decline but their effects have remained. Mature trees that are vital nesting areas of birds are scant in the island.

Still, Rasa Island probably holds the highest population density of the Philippine Cockatoo that remains in the wild with an estimated 50 to 70 birds. This makes Rasa a high priority area for the protection and conservation of the species. In addition, 87 other species of birds have been sighted on the island including the Black-Naped Oriole, the White-Vented Shama, the Blue-naped Parrot, the Blue-headed Racket-tail, the Great-billed Heron, and the Palawan Flowerpecker. This diversity is highlighted by the fact that the island is only about 8.34 sq/km.

Rasa is an island teeming with life and lingering in death. Here is the last stronghold of Philippine Cockatoos in the wild. How long can their strength last? Long enough to recover it's population and freely fly again, we hope.

Pictures Palawan Pictures Rasa Island

Dumaran

This section will tell about the 2nd location Dumaran.