Rare Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon photographed after 20-year gap

A camera placed in the rainforest of Puerto Galera on Mindoro Island photographed the critically endangered Mindoro bleeding-heart pigeon, providing the first confirmed visual evidence of the species in twenty years. The shot resulted from a collaboration between Indigenous Iraya Mangyan patrollers and Centre for Conservation Innovation Ph Inc. researchers, underscoring the value of local knowledge in biodiversity monitoring.

Ornithologists confirmed the bird's distinctive orange-red chest patch and green head plumage, and noted it was captured at an elevation above 900 m, higher than its typical lowland habitat. This shift may reflect degradation of lower slopes due to tourism development. Scientists urge the creation of a legislated protected zone covering the Mount Halcon-Mount Malasimbo Range and stricter enforcement against illegal logging and trapping. The discovery offers hope for the species but also signals urgent conservation action.