Philippine brown deer spotted in Balilihan, Bohol?

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Bohol Governor Erico Aris Aumentado has called for the protection of wildlife after what is believed to be a Philippine brown deer was spotted in Barangay Hanopol, Balilihan town.

According to reports, the deer was seen grazing alongside goats in the area.

“Wow! Dapat ma-protektahan ni (This needs to be protected),” Aumentado said in a social media post on Saturday, June 20, as he shared a video of the deer, which was captured by a netizen and later posted by a local radio station.

READ: Philippine scientists map genome to save endangered Visayan spotted deer

Netizens echo call for protection

Many netizens who commented on the governor’s post echoed his call for protection, expressing concern that the deer could become a target for hunters and be slaughtered for its meat.

READ: Rare Philippine brown deer sighted again in Marinduque

“Protektahan jud ni basin kalit lang ni mawala kay gisinigang na. Malingaw na atong kabataan ug mga apo ani makakita naa dri sa Bohol,” Richelo Luega said. (The deer must be protected, or else it will end up being cooked as stew. Seeing the deer in Bohol will bring joy to our children and grandchildren.)

Another netizen, Mundel Nasoyo, expressed hope that the population of the Philippine brown deer in their province would increase, much like the tarsier, for which the province is well known.

Another commenter, Jeff Rey, questioned the authenticity of the video, to which Aumentado replied, “Ipa-check nato (We will have it checked)!”

Philippine brown deer

The Philippine brown deer is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The species is generally associated with forested habitats and dense thickets but also forages in open areas such as grasslands. Largely nocturnal, it is often hunted for its meat, which has reportedly been sold for around P150 to P250 per kilogram.

The most recent sighting of a Philippine brown deer was recorded at the Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Mimaropa-PENRO Marinduque and its partner communities.

Previous sightings of the Philippine brown deer have also been documented in Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, and other areas. However, the population of the species continues to face increasing pressure from habitat loss caused by deforestation and forest fragmentation.

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