Several new Owl Species discovered in the Philippines

Mickeroo

A bunch of new species of Hawk-Owls have been discovered in the philippines. 2 new species aswell as some that were classed as Luzon Hawk Owls but have now been elevated.

The first owl species, the Camiguin Hawk-owl (Ninox leventisi), is found only on Camiguin Sur, a small island off the coast of northern Mindanao. The second species is called the Cebu Hawk-owl (Ninox rumseyi). It was originally thought to be extinct due to widespread deforestation on the island of Cebu.

“This species [the Cebu Hawk-owl] is possibly endangered. It can only be found in small patches of forests in Cebu,” biologist Lisa Marie Paguntalan of the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PBCFI) was quoted as saying by Inquirer News.

Other hawl-owls formerly classified under the Luzon Hawk Owl (Ninox philippensis) but now elevated to species status include the Mindoro Hawk Owl (Ninox mindorensis), the Romblon Hawk Owl (Ninox spilonota), the Mindanao Hawk Owl (Ninox spilocephala) and the Sulu Hawk Owl (Ninox reyi).

Source: http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0818-philippines-owl.html

Birdnuts

Phillipines is one the planets biodiversity hotspots. So it is alarming that so little natural habitat is left on these islands, it really will be a battle to prevent a raft of further extinctions in the face of ever growing human population and development pressures:(