TUKAT: CAGWAIT’S ENDEMIC BEAUTY

Famous for its sugar fined white sand, clean beach with sparkling blue waters which
was compared to Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, truly, Cagwait has inscribed its name in the
Philippine map bearing the recognition as the “tourist haven of Surigao del Sur”. But what is
more in Cagwait aside from the most admired Cagwait Cove? Little did Cagwaitnons know
that an endemic fauna with an exceptional beauty inhabit its virgin forests.
It was on November 2007 that the Haribon Foundation uncovered the secret
remnants of Cagwait’s unique bird through the conduct of a biophysical survey of the
terrestrial vertebrates of the Mt. Diwata Important Biodiversity Area. The study was
undertaken starting on the 15th to the 25th of November 2007 including the site
reconnaissance. It was made to carry the study for the terrestrial vertebrae profile of a
portion of the IBA in Diwata mountain ranges in support of the Golden Forest (GF) project.
The project sites cover the Municipality of Cagwait. Biophysical survey was conducted
approximately at the Km 19 near the log yard of Aras-asan Timber Company (ARTIMCO),
Sitio Mam-on, Barangay Tubo-tubo, Cagwait Surigao del Sur. Campsite of the Haribon
Foundation who conducted the survey is situated at N 8 51 32.4 E 126 11 47.6, around 491
meters above sea level. Net and trap lines were situated at the north, northeast and western
section of the base camp. Likewise, transect lines were traversed to the northeast, west,
east and southwest of the camp. Estimated area covered by the study sites was around 231
hectares. Highest elevation that the team was able to reach is around 500+masl. (LGU-
Cagwait-Upland-Biodiversity)
At least five (5) species recorded from interview were seen during the site
assessment acitvity in La Purisima, Cagwait and observations in Km. 10 (sitio Mam-on). One
of these is the Wattled Broadbill or Mindanao Broadbill (Sarcophanops steerii) which is
endemic in to the islands of Mindanao, Basilan and Siargao. Its natural habitats are
subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, and
subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss. As described, this
bird is only 17 cm. small, brightly colored passerine with black throat and face. It is with
green eye surrounded by large, prominent sky-blue wattle. It also has a large, broad, pale
blue bill with maroon-purple crown, bordered by white nuchal collar. Dark grey mantle, bright
chestnut rump and tail. Black wings with prominent white and yellow bar across tertials and
secondaries. Lilac underparts becoming yellowish-white on lower belly.
The said bird was named Tukat by one of the natives who assisted the members of
the Haribon Foundation in the survey. The discovery of Tukat was a great breakthrough in
the Municipality of Cagwait since its forest has become a sanctuary of a bird species who
have been extinct due to the disparity in biodiversity. Thus, it was promoted by the
municipality by utilizing its image in the logo of Kaliguan Festival. In an interview with, Engr.
Baby Neil Quinonez, head of Municipal Development and Planning Office (MPDO) and Mr.
Arthur Luengas, head of Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO),
Tukat was locally declared as a flagship species of the Municipality of Cagwait. As of today,
Tukat is still inhabiting the virgin forests of Km.10 -16 of Tubo-tubo, Cagwait, Surigao del
Sur.
Indeed, Cagwait has a lot more to offer and to be proud of in the country and even in
the world. It is not just an amenable home for tired and weary tourists looking for a cozy
shelter, but most of all it is an abode of several species in peril of extinction. If only balance
and harmony in nature will be regained then these endemic species will survive for our future
generations to witness their beauty and glamour.