A leading environmental researcher will share insights on protecting the critically endangered Tamaraw through a multidisciplinary conservation approach during a webinar on June 30, 2025 from 1PM to 3PM, organized by Philippine research institutions.

Dr. Nikki Heherson A. Dagamac, a long-term DOST-PCAARRD Balik Scientist and Outstanding Young Scientist for Biology, will present his research on “Multidisciplinary Approaches for Tamaraw Conservation Against Threats in Mindoro” during the online event.

The Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), endemic to Mindoro island, is one of the Philippines’ most endangered large mammals with fewer than 600 individuals, around 250 of them are mature, remaining in the wild according to recent estimates.

The dwarf buffalo, which stands about one meter tall, once roamed throughout Mindoro but is now confined to small pockets of grassland and forest in the island’s mountainous interior.

Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, illegal hunting, and human encroachment have dramatically reduced Tamaraw populations from an estimated 10,000 in the early 1900s.

The species is currently restricted to areas around Mount Iglit-Baco National Park and nearby protected zones in Occidental Mindoro.

Dr. Dagamac’s presentation will focus on addressing various threats facing the species in its natural habitat on Mindoro, utilizing approaches that combine multiple scientific disciplines to develop comprehensive conservation strategies.

The webinar is spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) to raise awareness about Philippine biodiversity conservation.

As a Balik Scientist, Dr. Dagamac hopes to encourage Filipino scientists working abroad to return and contribute their expertise to Philippine research and development.