The Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), or Mindoro Dwarf Buffalo, is solely endemic to the

island of Mindoro (9,735 km²). It is the only wild cattle species living in the Philippine
archipelago. It is a rather solitary animal weighting up to 300 kg and measuring only
about 1m high. Originally widespread across the island, the Tamaraw has suffered from
heavy hunting and continued habitat destruction during the last century. The species
has gradually been confined within the mountainous interior of the island. Its population
has shrunk from 10 000 in 1900 to no more than 400 animals nowadays. Despite its
protected status and conservation efforts from local institutions, the Tamaraw seems to
be more and more limited to the well monitored "core zone", a 16 000 hectare area,
within Mounts Iglit-Baco National Park. This "core zone" is supposedly the last viable
refuge of the species. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the Red list of the IUCN.

The current homerange of the Tamaraw stretches over the ancestral land of the
mangyans indigenous communities who are the original inhabitants of the island. Within
the protected area, mangyans preserve a traditional lifestyle based on hunting and
slash and burn agriculture. Both Tamaraw and mangyans depend on the preservation of
the natural environment for their survival. The future of the species is therefore
inherently linked to these communities.
Noé Conservation, a French association aiming at conserving biodiversity, has
conducted seven exploration missions during the dry seasons (January to May)
between 2012 and 2014 to assess the homerange of Tamaraw. Nearly 60 000 hectares
of under-surveyed or even un-explored areas within and around the Park have been
covered. These missions have also helped gather crucial information on the current
situation regarding the prevailing natural habitats and socio-cultural contexts.