Introduction

The tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is a critically endangered species classified under DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09 (Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and Their Categories) as Critically Endangered. It is endemic exclusively to the island of Mindoro and is protected under multiple layers of Philippine law, including Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001, as amended by RA 10631), the Expanded NIPAS Act (RA 11038), and the Philippines’ obligations under CITES Appendix I.

The remaining wild population is concentrated in Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park (a protected area under the NIPAS and an ASEAN Heritage Park), while the only captive population is maintained by the DENR at the Tamaraw Gene Pool Farm in Manoot, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, under the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP).

Transporting live tamaraws—whether from the wild population, the Gene Pool Farm, or any other location—to a private reserve is an extremely restricted activity. It is generally allowed only for legitimate conservation purposes (e.g., genetic rescue, population augmentation, or establishment of an additional conservation breeding site) and never for commercial, display, or private collection purposes. Any attempt to transport tamaraws for non-conservation reasons constitutes a criminal offense under RA 9147.

Governing Legal Framework

Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Act) as amended by RA 10631
DENR Administrative Order No. 2017-11 (Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9147, as amended)
DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09 (Updated List of Threatened Species)
Republic Act No. 11038 (Expanded NIPAS Act) and its IRR (DAO 2018-05)
CITES Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) and Philippine implementation via RA 9147
Republic Act No. 8485 (Animal Welfare Act) as amended by RA 10631
Bureau of Animal Industry regulations on animal transport (especially for ungulates)
Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Resolution requirements for activities inside Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park

Permits and Clearances Required

Transporting even a single tamaraw requires the following permits and clearances. All must be secured sequentially or concurrently, and approval is granted only after rigorous scientific and technical review.

1. DENR Secretary Approval / Special Authority (Mandatory and Primary Requirement)

Because the tamaraw is critically endangered and listed in DAO 2019-09, any collection, possession, or transport requires prior written approval from the DENR Secretary or the Undersecretary for Field Operations/Biodiversity.
This is usually issued in the form of a Secretary’s Directive, Special Order, or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DENR and the private proponent.
Without this, no other permit will be issued.

2. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)

The private reserve must enter into a formal MOA with DENR-BMB (formerly Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau).
The MOA specifies that the tamaraws remain property of the State, that the private entity acts only as custodian for conservation purposes, and that DENR retains full authority over breeding, health, and eventual disposition of the animals and their offspring.
The MOA typically lasts 10–25 years and is renewable only upon satisfactory performance.

3. Wildlife Management Permit / Conservation Breeding Program Approval

The private reserve must be accredited under a DENR-approved Conservation Breeding Program or Tamaraw Conservation Program extension.
This requires submission of a detailed Wildlife Management Plan prepared by qualified wildlife biologists/veterinarians and endorsed by recognized experts (e.g., IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, TCP Technical Working Group).

4. Certificate of Wildlife Registration (CWR)

Required for legal possession of each individual tamaraw.
Issued by the DENR Regional Office having jurisdiction over the private reserve.
Valid for five (5) years and renewable.
Each animal must be microchipped or otherwise permanently marked, and the CWR lists the microchip number.

5. Local Transport Permit (LTP)

Issued by the DENR Regional Executive Director of the region of origin (usually Region IV-B for Mindoro-sourced animals).
Valid only for a specific date/range of dates and specific route.
Must be carried together with the transport crate at all times.
Separate LTPs are required for each leg if the transport involves multiple regions.

6. Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Clearance (if source is Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park)

Any capture or collection inside the protected area requires prior PAMB en banc resolution approving the activity.
The PAMB resolution must be endorsed by the Regional Protected Area Management Committee and approved by the DENR Secretary.

7. Gratuitous Permit (if animals come from government facility)

When transferring animals from the DENR Gene Pool Farm, a Gratuitous Permit is issued transferring custody (but not ownership) to the private facility.

8. Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Permits

Veterinary Health Certificate (domestic movement)
Animal Transport Permit (especially if by sea or air)
Shipping Permit for Livestock (if transported as hoofstock)
Negative test results for brucellosis, tuberculosis, foot-and-mouth disease, and other OIE-listed diseases

9. LGU Permits (Provincial/Municipal)

Provincial Veterinary Office clearance
Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) endorsement
Barangay clearance at both origin and destination

10. Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Coast Guard Escort (usually required)

For high-value and critically endangered species, DENR usually requires armed escort during transport.

11. CITES Non-Commercial Certificate (even for domestic movement)

Although not strictly required for purely domestic transport, DENR-BMB often issues a CITES “certificate for movement of live specimens” to satisfy international standards and facilitate future international cooperation.

Application Procedure (Step-by-Step)

Private proponent submits Letter of Intent + Concept Proposal to DENR-BMB Director.
BMB convenes Technical Working Group review (may take 3–12 months).
If favorably endorsed, proponent prepares full Wildlife Management Plan and undergoes site inspection.
Execution of MOA with DENR.
Accreditation of the private facility (enclosure standards must meet or exceed DAO 2019-10 Guidelines for Wildlife Facilities).
Issuance of Secretary’s Authority / Special Order.
Application for specific permits (CWR, LTP, BAI certificates).
Pre-transport health examination and quarantine (minimum 30 days).
Actual transport under DENR supervision.
Post-transport reporting and monitoring (quarterly for the first two years, annually thereafter).

Current Reality and Precedents

As of December 2025, no tamaraw has ever been legally transferred to a purely private reserve in the Philippines. The only captive individuals are under direct DENR custody at the Gene Pool Farm in Manoot, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, and a few animals previously held at the former PCC facility in Gene Pool, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

All proposals for private conservation facilities (including past proposals by large corporations and high-profile individuals) have been denied or remain pending indefinitely due to the extreme risk of disease introduction, genetic contamination, and security concerns.

The DENR’s official policy, as repeatedly stated in TCP meetings and public pronouncements, is that any new conservation breeding site must be government-owned or co-managed, with private partners allowed only in supporting roles (funding, technical assistance, land donation).

Penalties for Violation

Transporting a tamaraw without complete permits carries the following penalties under RA 10631:

Imprisonment of six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years
Fine of ₱100,000 to ₱1,000,000 per animal
Forfeiture of the animals and all equipment used
Perpetual disqualification from securing future wildlife permits
Possible additional charges under the Animal Welfare Act, Anti-Fencing Law, or even the Revised Penal Code (illegal possession of government property)

Conclusion

Transporting tamaraws to a private reserve is theoretically possible under Philippine law but practically almost impossible under current policy and conservation priorities. Any private entity seriously interested in contributing to tamaraw conservation is strongly advised to partner with the DENR Tamaraw Conservation Program through funding, habitat protection, or establishment of buffer-zone reforestation projects rather than seeking direct custody of live specimens.

The State retains absolute authority over this national heritage species, and any translocation will only be approved when it demonstrably serves the survival of the species—not the interests of any private individual or corporation.