The Bacon-Manito Geothermal project (Bacman) of Energy Development Corporation (EDC) donated three Philippine brown deer and four Javan/Australian deer to the provincial government of Albay (PGA) and Albay Park & Wildlife in celebration of World Wildlife Day (WWD) on March 3.

The seven deer are among the animals being bred and protected by EDC in its Bacman nursery and wildlife rescue center.

Bacman vice president Liberato Virata and Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara earlier signed a deed of donation in Legazpi to formalize the donation. The deer will be sheltered in the Albay Park and Wildlife where they will be protected and included among the park’s attractions and educate the public on the importance of wildlife conservation.

As part of the WWD celebration, the provincial government, Bacman and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also released five predatory birds in the Bacman geothermal reservation which is an identified key biodiversity area in the region. The celebration was held at the Bacman nursery and wildlife rescue center in Manito, Albay.

“We are pleased to participate and partner with the PGA and DENR in this important event. Environmental stewardship is integral to our geothermal operations. Bacman will continue to advocate biodiversity conservation including wildlife rescue and preservation,” Virata said.

Bacman implements a comprehensive watershed management and biodiversity conservation and monitoring program including wildlife conservation which is enrolled under the DENR’s Adopt-AWildlife-Species program. Through the program, EDC acts as the adopting entity of particular wildlife species throughout its five geothermal sites. (Story/Photos by: Toni Nieva)