About
The Balabac Island Wildlife Sanctuary lies on Balabac Island, in the southern part of Palawan in the Philippines. It is also known as the Balabac Protected Landscape and Seascape, a name that reflects its two parts: land and sea.
What the sanctuary protects
The sanctuary is a critical habitat for the endangered Balabac mouse-deer, a small animal found nowhere else, along with other endemic species that share its forests. Because it covers both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, it protects the island's forest and the waters around it as one connected landscape.
What a visit offers
- Wildlife: For those interested in animals found only in this part of the world, the reserve is the place to look for them, though sightings in the wild are never guaranteed.
- Land and sea: The mix of forest and marine habitat makes the sanctuary suited to visitors who want to see how the two are linked.
- Conservation: Visiting a protected area of this kind is a chance to learn how a small island community and its environment depend on each other.
Getting there and planning
Balabac is a remote island at the southern end of Palawan, so a trip here takes more planning than a visit to a town or resort on the main island. Before you go, contact the sanctuary office by telephone at +63 48 434 4301 to ask about access, guides and any rules for visitors. Bring what you need for a natural area, and treat the wildlife and the habitat with care.