Endangered birds released in Negros Oriental

Three endangered hornbills made history as the first Philippine captive-bred species of its kind to be released into the wild. The Silliman University Center for Tropical Conservation Studies released the three birds, the Visayan Daily Star reported on Monday. The male tarictic hornbills (Penelopides panini), also known as talusi, were freed within the Balinsasayao-Twin Lakes Natural Park . Their parent hornbills come from the breeding facility of Negros Forest Ecological Foundation Inc. in Bacolod City and were later transferred to CenTrop. Aside from the hornbills, a male 26-inch adult sailfin lizard (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) was also released in the park. The lizard was donated to the Center when its owners could no longer keep it as a pet. Tarictic hornbills are naturally found only on the islands of the Visayas, such as Negros and Panay. However, they have become rare in Negros and even extinct on the islands of Cebu and Masbate which were once their homes. CenTrop is one of the few institutions in the Philippines that operate a captive breeding facility. The reintroduced three young hornbills are believed to easily adapt to their new environment and eventually assimilate with the native population around the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes area. The release of the animals was documented on "Born to be Wild," a nature and wildlife television show of GMA Network. –VVP, GMANews.TV