The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Davao Region has reported the sighting of a Mindanao mangrove snake inside the Baganga Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve. DENR-Davao announced that personnel from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Baganga observed the snake during patrol operations on April 21.
Snake Identification and Habitat
The snake, scientifically identified as Boiga dendrophila latifasciata, was found resting on a bakhaw lalaki (Rhizophora apiculata) tree. This observation underscores the crucial role of mangrove species in supporting wildlife habitats within the reserve. Personnel identified the snake by its glossy black body marked with bold yellow transverse bands.
The Mindanao mangrove snake is nocturnal and arboreal, commonly inhabiting lowland forests, riverbanks, and mangrove ecosystems. The species can survive even in partially disturbed habitats, showcasing its adaptability to environmental changes.
Ecological Significance
"The documentation of this species within the BMSFR emphasizes the ecological importance of mangrove ecosystems in sustaining diverse wildlife," DENR-Davao said in a statement released May 9. The agency noted that this discovery adds to the growing list of wildlife documented in the reserve and strengthens the need for continued conservation, protection, and monitoring efforts in the area.
Conservation Status
DENR-Davao explained that the snake is rear-fanged and mildly venomous. Under Department Administrative Order 2019-09, which contains the updated national list of threatened Philippine fauna, the species is classified as an Other Threatened Species due to risks such as habitat loss and environmental degradation.
Importance of Baganga Mangrove Ecosystem
The Baganga mangrove ecosystem plays a vital role in shoreline protection, biodiversity conservation, fisheries support, and carbon storage in eastern Mindanao. The Baganga Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve was declared a protected area under Presidential Proclamation No. 2152 dated December 29, 1981.
Adjacent to the reserve is the Baganga Protected Landscape, formerly known as the Baganga Watershed Reservation, which was declared a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992. Together, both protected areas cover a combined 14,013 hectares across 11 coastal barangays in Baganga town, including Baculin, Bobonao, Salingcomot, Lucod, Central, Saoquigue, Lambajon, Dapnan, San Victor, Kinablangan, and Ban-ao.
