Calauit Island, Wildlife sanctuary in Calamian Archipelago, Philippines.
Calauit Island is a wildlife sanctuary in the Calamian Archipelago of the Philippines, made up of grasslands, forests, and stretches of coastline. The island sits close to the northwestern tip of Busuanga and shelters a mix of native Philippine animals alongside African species.
In 1976, a presidential decree turned the island into a game preserve, which led to the relocation of the Tagbanwa community that had long lived there. Shortly after, giraffes, zebras, and other animals were brought from Kenya to populate the new sanctuary.
The name Calauit is said to derive from a local word for a type of sea snail, reflecting how closely the original inhabitants lived with the ocean. Today, visitors come mainly to see the African animals roaming freely, and the sight of giraffes moving through tropical trees is something most people do not forget.
The island is reached by boat after flying into Coron, and the ride across the water takes some time, so arriving early in the day is a good idea. The terrain is open and partly hilly, so comfortable shoes and sun protection matter more than anything else.
The giraffes and zebras on the island are descended from a group sent directly from Kenya in the late 1970s as part of a conservation effort, not a private collection. Decades later, they live and reproduce freely across the grasslands, with no fences separating them from visitors on guided walks.
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