The latter is a yearly activity with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in coordination with PAWB (Plants and Wildlife Bureau) and DENR (Deaprtment of Environment and Natural Resources).

This count not only covers Mountain Iglit-Baco in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro but also Mt. Aruyan, the latter upon the recommendation of international researchers confirming the presence of tamaraws in the area.

FEU supports this project not only because the tamaraw is among the world’s endangered species, but also because the tamaraw is the mascot of the university.

The Save the Tamaraw Project aims to find ways to help protect the tamaraw from extinction. To keep track of the animals, participants conduct an annual count of the tamaraws. This year’s count yielded a total population count of 263, an improvement from last year’s 239.This is the third year that FEU has participated in the program.

Another aspect of the Save the Tamaraw Project is the study of the vegetation in the Mindoro mountains where the Mangyans live. This is intended to help develop a program for the introduction of new species which will further improve vegetation. The FEU faculty, staff and students studied the ethnobotany- the plant town- in the areas used by the Mangyans in Mindoro. The participants made observations on the usage, method of collection, the parts utilized, the processing and the application of the plants in the area.

Recognizing the important interaction between the Mangyan culture, the vegetation and the tamaraws, FEU saw the potential for conducting an ecological study in the area, something that is taught as part of the Ecology course in the university. During the project, FEU also brought student volunteers and other members of FEU to the Mangyan community.

The group’s participation in the counting was capped with visits to the Mangyan communities and distribution of rice, salt, canned goods and other items for the children.