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Site description (2001 baseline):
Site location and context
Culion (45,600 ha) is the second largest of the Calamian group, to the north of Palawan. It retains patches of open canopy broadleaf lowland forest, consisting of small to medium sized trees on poor soil. These are found both along the ridges and on flat areas.
Several of the threatened and restricted-range species of the Palawan Endemic Bird Area were recently recorded on Culion, including the threatened Philippine Cockatoo, Blue-headed Racquet-tail and Palawan Hornbill. The reports of Palawan Peacock-pheasant there are surprising and require confirmation.
Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals recorded in this IBA include bearded pig Sus barabatus and the endangered endemic Calamian hog-deer Axis calamianensis. The waters off Culion are known to support a population of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus.
The rare Palawan-endemic Philippine discoglossid frog Barbourula busuangensis is found in this IBA.
Mammals recorded in this IBA include bearded pig Sus barabatus and the endangered endemic Calamian hog-deer Axis calamianensis. The waters off Culion are known to support a population of bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus.
The rare Palawan-endemic Philippine discoglossid frog Barbourula busuangensis is found in this IBA.
Culion (45,600 ha) is the second largest of the Calamian group, to the north of Palawan. It retains patches of open canopy broadleaf lowland forest, consisting of small to medium sized trees on poor soil. These are found both along the ridges and on flat areas.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The forests on Culion are not believed to be under serious threat of encroachment, apart from occasional cutting apparently for local use.
Culion is a reserved area (leper colony) under the Department of Health and the provincial government.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Culion Island (Philippines). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/culion-island-iba-philippines on 23/12/2024.
