Philippine Deer Spotted Again in Marinduque After Decades
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Add Impactful Ninja as a preferred source on Google or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: After being absent from Marinduque’s forests since the 1990s, the Philippine deer has been confirmed present again, with at least 10 individuals spotted and signs pointing to a possible breeding population.
📈 One key stat: At least 10 individual Philippine deer were documented in Marinduque in 2025, a significant sign that a surviving population may still exist in the island’s forests.
💬 One key quote: “Our village is happy because animals like that are becoming more common here,” a resident of Makulapnit said.
1️⃣ The big picture: The Philippine deer, a species endemic to the Philippines and listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, was believed locally extinct in Marinduque since the 1990s. Starting in 2022, local residents began reporting sightings deep in the island’s forests, and by 2025, monitoring efforts confirmed at least 10 individuals across multiple locations. In early 2026, a younger deer without antlers was spotted, raising hopes that a new generation may be growing up in the mountains. Conservation authorities, including the DENR and PENRO, have been running sustained biodiversity monitoring programs alongside public awareness campaigns to protect the species. Despite this encouraging return, threats such as habitat fragmentation, illegal hunting, and wild dog attacks continue to put pressure on the population.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Confirming the presence of at least 10 Philippine deer in Marinduque after decades of silence suggests that nature can recover even when a species is assumed lost. The sighting of a younger, antler-free deer hints at active reproduction, which means the island may now be home to a self-sustaining population. Local communities are actively involved in monitoring and reporting, turning residents into real conservation partners who help protect the species on the ground. Expanded sightings across multiple villages and footprints found in broader areas indicate the deer may be reclaiming more of their historic range. If the proposed University of the Philippines Los Baños study confirms a stable breeding population, it could strengthen legal protections and inspire similar community-led conservation efforts for other threatened Philippine wildlife.
3️⃣ What’s next: A proposed scientific study by the University of the Philippines Los Baños aims to assess the full status of the deer population and inform long-term management strategies. Authorities are strengthening coordination with the Provincial Veterinary Office to better respond to threats like wild dog attacks. Public awareness campaigns will continue to reinforce community compliance with wildlife protection laws across Marinduque.
Read the full story here: Happy Eco News – Elusive Philippine Deer Returns to Marinduque After Missing for Decades
