On December 17th, 2021 at 3:10pm Super Typhoon Rai (aka Odette) made landfall on the island of Palawan in the Philippines with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 205 kph (127 mph). The northern island was torn apart, with 90% of the infrastructure (roads, bridges, electricity) wiped out by the storm. Just one week before Christmas, people lost their homes and have no water, no electricity, and dramatically limited communication to the outside world.

 

 

Those with the resources to transport people and resources via small boats (barcas) are abusing the crisis and raising prices of basic commodities exponentially. People are starving, with an estimated 16,000 displaced - seeking food, clean water, and shelter.

[Read more: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/815362/17-reported-dead-22-missing-in-puerto-princesa/story/]

 

 

Additional Danger:

Northern Palawan is also home to a number of endangered species, ranging from the charismatic Pangolin to the critically endangered Philippine Forest Turtle (Siebenrockiella leytensis, native *only* to northern Palawan). In 2015, there was a mass confiscation of 3,831 Palawan Forest Turtles from a smuggling ring - headed into the food and pet trade.

 

 

The turtles were rescued and then rehabilitated by the Katala Foundation Inc, run by Dr. Sabine Schoppe. Through the months and months of tireless efforts of Dr. Schoppe, her coworkers, local volunteers, and a diverse network of international veterinary volunteers (myself included), nearly 90% of the turtles survived and were able to be released back into the wild, in protected streams, where they belong.

 

[Read more about KFI's ongoing efforts: https://www.worldatlas.com/news/philippines-only-endemic-turtle-is-on-the-brink-but-conservationists-are-determined-to-bring-it-back.html]

 

Today, with this sudden crisis, the Palawan community is in dire need of help, and helping them *also* helps to protect this critically endangered species. This is a true example of One Health - the intersection of environment, animal, and human health interwoven together in this trying time.

 

Message from Sabine Schoppe, of the Katala Foundation Inc. (KFI), on 12/24/21:

"I can only speak for the turtle staff, pangolin staff, and the 19 wardens under these two programs, and of course the protected areas and related structures. I cannot yet assess the total damage and how much it will cost to rebuild everything. What is most needed at this very moment is water, food, medicine, roofing materials and nails, solar lights, communication, and fuel.

People are starving, have no means to buy food, and stocks are diminishing in the affected areas. This has put the Palawan Forest Turtle back on the menu. Therefore, I am trying to mobilize funds that do not only help our affected wardens and staff, but also community members, especially those around the Palawan Forest Turtle Reserve whom we know sometimes eat the Philippine Forest Turtle. I want to provide people with basic needs, to help give them different choices and preserve the local endangered species. Any donation is very much appreciated."

[Learn more about KFI: www.katalafoundation.org and www.philippinecockatoo.org]

 

 

During this very difficult time, with the holidays upon us and the pandemic ever stretching out before us, I know not everyone will have the resources to donate. If you can, please consider donating as much or as little as you can. Even $10 makes a difference - and if you cannot donate, please share this with others who can.

 

 

Full transparency:

I have set up this GoFundMe, in collaboration with the Katala Foundation Inc. (a Palawan based non-profit), so people from all over the world can donate to both save lives and protect endangered species. With all the interrupted infrastructure, those on Palawan can only use GCash and Philippine bank accounts to process funds at this time. These donations will go through me, directly to Katala Foundation Inc., to purchase supplies for the survival of their volunteers, staff, and the local community, as well as to rebuild the facilities and protections for the Philippine Forest Turtle and other locally endangered species.