Metro Manila, Philippines – For nearly two decades, the critically endangered Mindoro Bleeding-heart remained largely unseen in the forests of Mindoro.
In August 2026, the elusive bird was captured on camera, offering a rare glimpse of a species considered among the country’s most threatened birds and a hopeful sign for conservation efforts on the island.
The photograph was taken at more than 900 meters above sea level, beyond the elevation where the species had historically been documented.
The record came from an indigenous-led conservation effort within the Iraya Mangyan ancestral domain, carried out through a partnership between Iraya Mangyan communities and the Center for Conservation Innovation Philippines Inc. under the Mindoro Forest and Biodiversity Conservation Programme.
