| Batanes Province harbors a moderately rich assemblage of terrestrial fauna due to its limited area and remote location in the Philippines, nearly equidistant to both Palearctic Taiwan and Wallacean Luzon. This isolation produced several endemic reptiles, birds and mammals allied to species from subtropical Taiwan-Ryukyus or tropical Philippines. This complementary mix of wildlife regarded Batanes as a distinct transitional biogeographic region (parallel with Babuyan Islands. Due to its unique geology, endemic fauna & flora, and indigenous Ivatan culture, the entire province was designated as a protected landscape & seascape and UNESCO heritage site. Past biological expeditions were concentrated around Mt. Iraya, Batan Island that revealed several endemic taxa. Despite being a priority protected area, little is known about the wildlife of other islands, particularly on smaller uninhabited islands. Recent studies in neighboring Calayan group led to the discovery of new species and records. Subsequent surveys conducted on four major islands of Batanes group in 2006 and 2007 by U.P. Los Baños similarly observed possible new taxa and records. Five reptiles, 10 birds and two mammals recorded are regionally restricted, echoing the significance of Batanes as a high priority for biodiversity conservation. Seven threatened and near-threatened species are known from Batanes including Platalea minor, Egretta eulophotes, Treron formosae, Otus elegans, Terpsiphone atrocaudata, Pteropus dasymallus and Trimeresurus mcgregori. Both regional endemics and threatened wildlife represent key species for conservation and serve as principal bio-indicators for management. Therefore, it is crucial that protection be centered on habitats inhabited by key species. Coastal areas and lowland forests surveyed were identified as critical habitats in Itbayat ( Mt. Karoboban; Mt. Riposed; Mahayid cliffs), Batan (Mt. Iraya; Mt. Mahtarem), Sabtang (Malakdang; Vichinyi; Savidug-Chavayan; Nakanmuan) and Ivojos islands. Most sites represent remnant patches of old growth and secondary evergreen forests that harbor equally important endemic flora, but were in various degrees of encroachment. Some 30 resident species were consistently recorded across four islands forming its core fauna, which includes recent colonists and autochthonous island taxa. Several were analogous with Babuyan and Lanyu, showing geographical affinities and faunal similarities with Batanes. Moderate diversity exhibited by these isolated islands apparently relate to limited mobility and niche availability afforded to insular wildlife. Current results enriched the baseline information on insular vertebrate fauna of Batan, Itbayat, Sabtang and Ivojos islands, vital to community-based management and local conservation education. Although Batanes’ fauna was not as diverse as most Philippine islands, its inimitable wildlife represent an important contribution to the country’s natural heritage, and palpable link to north Asia |
| Batanes (located 20o 30’ N; 121o 50’ E) is the most remote province in the Philippines, composed of a cluster of 10 isolated islands between the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, covering a total of 23,347 hectares. The three largest islands of of Itbayat (9,000 ha), Batan (7,000 ha) and Sabtang (1,600 ha) harbors all five municipalities, fringed with smaller uninhabited islands such as Ivuhos, Diadekey and Dinem. The northernmost island of Y’Ami borders Lanyu (Botel Tobago) Island off Taiwan , thus sharing Palearctic elements from north Asia , some of which extend to the Babuyan islands . Despite its isolation, Batanes still shares distinctively Philippine endemics with Wallacean Luzon Island . This isolation produced several endemic reptiles, birds and mammals allied to species from subtropical Taiwan-Ryukyus or tropical Philippines . This complementary mix of wildlife regarded Batanes as a distinct transitional biogeographic region (parallel with Babuyan Islands). |   |
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| Due to its unique geology, endemic fauna & flora, and indigenous Ivatan culture, the entire province was designated as a protected landscape & seascape and UNESCO heritage site. Past biological expeditions were mostly concentrated around Mt. Iraya in Batan Island that revealed several endemic taxa, similarly shared with Sabtang and Ivuhos. Despite being a priority protected area, little is still known about the wildlife of other islands, particularly on smaller uninhabited islands. Recent extensive studies in neighboring Calayan group led to the discovery of new species, new island records and even new country records. In retrospect, an extensive survey of terrestrial fauna in four major islands in the Batanes group is essential to better assess the status of biological diversity in this unique biogeographical region and priority protected area. |  
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 Mt. Karoboan, Itbayat |
 Mt. Iraya, Batan |
 Vichinyi, Sabtang |
 Ivuhos Island |
| Extensive surveys were conducted on four major islands of the Batanes group in April-May 2006 and May-June 2007 by a team of field biologists and students from U.P. Los Baños. Standard field methods for assessment (transect counts, trapping arrays and microhabitat sampling) of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals were deployed on lowland forest sites in Itbayat (Mt. Karoboban, Batan (Mt. Iraya); Sabtang (Vichinyi) and Ivojos islands. Subsequent surveys were also done on selected coastal areas and lowland forests in Itbayat ( Mt. Riposed ; Mahayid cliffs), Batan ( Mt. Mahtarem ) and Sabtang (Malakdang; Savidug-Chavayan; Nakanmuan). Most sites represent remnant patches of old growth and secondary evergreen forests that harbor equally important endemic flora, but most sites were in various degrees of human disturbance and agricultural encroachment. Clearance of inherently limited natural vegetation for subsistence farming and expanding cattle ranches were noted during the survey. |  
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| The project was able to provide invaluable field support to three undergraduate and graduate students. These included the following wildlife biology and zoology students from the University of the Philippines Los Baños: Kathy Lene S. Cielo, conducted a comparative survey of bat diversity the Batanes Islands (subsequently won 3rd place for the BPI Conservation Award 2008); Xy-za Chloe B. Reserva, conducted a survey of forest birds of the Batanes Islands; and A.V. Lacaste conducted a comparative Herpetofaunal survey in the Batanes Islands. The survey was also participated by field biologists from other FFI partner institutions, including ISLA Foundation (with Carmela Española) and Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (with Enteng Yngente). Nearly all the live captures were release after measurements where taken, with only a few selected herpetological vouchers were collected thru an approved gratuitous permit from the DENR Region 2 and BPLS PAMB. | 
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| The field team observed over 20 species of reptiles, more than 60 species of birds and some five species of mammals, including several possible new taxa (i.e., Eutropsis sp. and Lepidodactylus sp.) and new island-records (i.e., Gekko kikuchi, Lycodon bibonius, Pandion haliaeetus, Centropus bengalensis and Miniopterus australis). Five reptiles (i.e., Gekko porosus; Lepidodactylus balioburius; Draco jareckii; Lycodon alcalai and Trimeresurus mcgregori), 10 birds (i.e., Rallina eurizonoides alvarezi; Treron formosae filipina, Ptilinopus leclancheri longialis; Macropygia tenuirostris septentrionalis; Centropus viridis carpenteri; Otus elegans calayensis, Apus pacificus kanoi; Hypsipetes amaurotis batanensis; Terpsiphone atrocaudata periophthalmica and Zosterops meyeni batanis); and two mammals (i.e., Crocidura attenuata and Pteropus dasymallus) recorded are regionally restricted to the Batanes-Babuyan islands. |  Draco jareckii female |
| Presence of regional endemics echoes the significance of Batanes as a “very high” priority for biodiversity conservation and a protected landscape. Seven threatened and near-threatened species are known from Batanes including Platalea minor, Egretta eulophotes, Treron formosae, Otus elegans, Terpsiphone atrocaudata, Pteropus dasymallus and Trimeresurus mcgregori. Current results enriched the baseline information on insular vertebrate fauna of Batan, Itbayat, Sabtang and Ivojos islands, vital to community-based management and local conservation education. Comparison of faunal composition between the four island-sites indicate 50-60% similarity, with differences attributed to variable occurrence of migratory birds, waders and island-endemic herpetofauna. Notable species shared with Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands are Otus elegans, Microscelis amaurotis, Terpsiphone atrocaudata, Pteropus dasymallus and Crocidura attenuata. |  Otus elegans calayensis |
| The apparent scarcity of indigenous frogs and non-volant mammals on Itbayat and Ivuhos islands was reflective of the depauperate amphibian and mammalian fauna of the Batanes group. Some 30 resident species were consistently recorded across the four islands forming its core fauna, which includes recent colonists and autochthonous island taxa. Several were analogous with Babuyan and Lanyu islands, showing geographical affinities and faunal similarities with Batanes, harboring both typical Palearctic and Wallacean elements. Most important were several new island records added to the Batanes group, particularly for the poorly studied Ivojos, Sabtang and Itbayat islands. These include records for Eutropsis cumingi, E. bontocensis, Lycodon bibonius, Sphenomorphus abdictus, Gonyosoma oxycephalum, Gekko cf. kikuchi and Miniopterus australis. . There are also unknown species of Lepidodactylus and Rhinolophus. |  Pteropus dasymallus |
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Trimeresurus
mcgregori Draco
jareckii male Lepidodactylus
balioburius
Lycodon
alcalai Gekko
porosus Sphenomorphus
abdictus
Zosterops meyeni Terpsiphone
atrocaudata male Microscelis amaurotis
Halcyon
coromanda Macropygia
tenuirostris Ptilinopus
leclancheri male
Rhinolophus virgo Cynopterus
brachyotis Miniopterus australis
Rhinolophus
sp. Pteropus
dasymallus Crocidura attenuata |
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Eutropsis
cumingi Lepidodactylus sp.
Gekko kikuchi Lycodon bibonius
Eutropsis
bontocensis Sphenomorphus sp. Gonyosoma oxycephalum
Cuculus
horsfieldi Centropus
bengalensis Ninox scutulata |
| Batanes Province harbors a moderately rich terrestrial fauna due to its limited area and remote location, nearly equidistant to both Palearctic Taiwan and Wallacean Luzon. Due to its unique geology, endemic fauna & flora, and indigenous Ivatan culture, the province was designated as a protected landscape & seascape, world heritage site, and a distinct biogeographic region. Past biological expeditions were concentrated around Mt. Iraya, Batan Island that revealed several endemic taxa, but little is known about the wildlife of other islands. Surveys conducted on four major islands of Batanes in 2006 and 2007 by U.P. Los Baños recorded several possible new taxa and new island records. At least five reptiles, 10 birds, and two mammals recorded are regionally restricted, and several threatened species are known from Batanes. |  Trimeresurus mcgregori  Survey team at Mt. Iraya, Batan |
| This wildlife represents key species for conservation and serve as principal bio-indicators. It is crucial that protection be centered on habitats inhabited by key species, including coastal areas and lowland forests surveyed in Itbayat, Batan, Sabtang and Ivuhos islands. Most sites represent remnant patches of old growth and secondary evergreen forests in various degrees of encroachment. Species consistently recorded across islands form the core fauna, of which several were analogous with Babuyan and Lanyu islands. Moderate diversity exhibited by these isolated islands apparently relate to limited mobility and niche availability afforded to insular wildlife. Current results enriched the baseline information on vertebrate fauna of Batanes, vital to community-based management and local conservation education. |  Mahayid Caves, Itbayat  Diadekey Island, off Ivuhos |
| Both regional endemics and threatened wildlife represent key species for conservation and serve as principal bio-indicators for monitoring and management. Therefore, it is crucial that protection be centered on habitats inhabited by these key species. Coastal areas and lowland forests surveyed were identified as critical habitats in Itbayat (Mt. Karoboban; Mt. Riposed; Mahayid cliffs), Batan (Mt. Iraya; Mt. Mahtarem); Sabtang (Malakdang; Vichinyi; Savidug-Chavayan; Nakanmuan) and Ivojos islands. Moderate diversity exhibited by the isolated islands of Batanes, Babuyan and Lanyu, apparently relate to limited mobility and niche availability afforded to insular wildlife, and constraints faced by northern and southern colonists. |  Mt. Iraya peak, Batan  Nakanmuan, Sabtang |
| Although Batanes’ fauna was not as diverse as most Philippine islands, its inimitable wildlife represent an important contribution to the country’s natural heritage, and palpable link to north Asia. Due to unavoidable logistical problems and limitations, other smaller uninhabited islands in the Batanes group were not visited, and therefore pose potential study sites. Further surveys are recommended for the smaller islands of Diadekey, Dinem, Siayan, Diturem, Mavudis and Y’Ami. Results of this current survey hopefully would support establishment of key priority areas or critical habitats within the protected area, and sustain future activities focused on local conservation education. | 
  Laticauda colubrina, male |
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Bibliography Allen,
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Alcala, A.C. 1978. Philippine Lizards of the Family Gekkonidae.
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Alcala, A.T.L. Dans, P.C. Gonzales, N.R. Ingle, M.V. Lepiten, W.L.R. Oliver,
P.S. Ong, E.A. Rickart, B.R. Tabaranza Jr. and R.C.B. Utzurrum 1998. A Synopsis
of the Mammalian Fauna of the Philippine Mallari, N.A.D., B.R. Tabaranza Jr. and
M.J. Crosby 2001. Key conservation sites in the Ota, H. and C.H. Ross. 1994. Four new species of Lycodon from the Rosler, H., C.D. Siler, R.M.
Brown, A.D. Demegillo & M. Gaulke. 2006. Gekko ernstkelleri sp. nov.
– a new gekkonid lizard from Shen, H.P. & C.F. Tsai
2002. Earthworm fauna of Wildlife Conservation Society of the Acknowledgements The
Batanes Island Biodiversity Survey was generously supported by a grant from the
Oklahoma City Zoo, Association of American Zoos & Aquaria, through Fauna
& Flora International – Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Programme, in
particular Brian Aucone and William
Oliver, respectively. The authors are grateful for the participation of Kathy
Lene Cielo, Xy-za Chloe Reserva, Vicente Yngente, Mark Vincent Yngente, Jimboy
Zafe, Christmas de Guzman, Carmela Española, Pedro Abanador, Enrique de Guzman,
Samuel Castillo, Henry Esperanza, Fausto Balanoba, Marcos Nobleza, Pol
Villegas, Armand Gallardo and Fred Intervalo. The authors acknowledge the
support of the following: Basco MENRO Francis Domingo, BPLS PASu George Reyes,
Sabtang Mayor Juan Cabellero, Itbayat Mayor Reuel Ibañes, Governor Vicente
Gato, Vice-Gov. Constante Castillejos, DepEd Sup. Emmelinta Belarmino, DepEd
Batanes, Brgy Capt Gato, Baby Baroña, Cantor family, Gerlad Fajardo, Ereful
family, Asa family, Abanador family, Cariaso family, Alavado family, Chemtrad,
Asian Spirit Basco, Ivatan Lodge Inn, Click Internet Basco, PENRO Batanes, PAWB
Dir. Mundita Lim, DENR Region 2, Animal Biology Division, Institute of
Biological Sciences & Museum of Natural History, University of the
Philippines Los Baños, PIBCFI (PESP-Chester Zoo), Philippine Society for Study
of Nature, Babuyan Islands Expedition 2004 and people of Batanes Province.
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