DOrSU represents PH at the New Zealand Deer Congress
DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND – The Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) sent three delegates, the only Filipinos attending, to the 11th International Deer Biology Congress (IDBC), held at the University of Otago from 10 to 13 February 2026.
The delegation was led by Assistant Professor Jhonnel Villegas, a deer specialist from DOrSU and a PhD candidate at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU). He presented findings from his dissertation project on the ecology and conservation of the Philippine brown deer (Rusa marianna Desmarest, 1822).
His presentation centered on Mandaya indigenous knowledge, values, and attitudes towards the conservation of the brown deer. Villegas stressed the importance of balancing nature protection with cultural preservation, especially since the brown deer is a traditionally hunted and sacred animal for the Mandaya people.
Villegas is also a co-author of another paper presented at the congress, which examined trends in international cooperation, authorship equity, and citation impact. The paper highlighted the significance of Global North-South collaboration to improve understanding of threatened deer species and to guide conservation decisions.
Two social researchers also attended: Dr. Jeralyn Hemillan and Dr. Mary Fil Bauyot, both from DOrSU’s Center for Gender and Development. They shared results from a university-funded 2021 project on human-deer interactions among the Obu Manuvu Indigenous community in Southeastern Philippines.
Hemillan discussed the value orientations and conservation attitudes of the Obu Manuvu forest guards, emphasising their strong commitment to conservation within heritage lands. As a licensed criminologist, she pointed out the law enforcement responsibilities of forest guards in protecting forests and biodiversity, particularly regarding the brown deer.
Bauyot, meanwhile, presented the contemporary gender roles of indigenous women and leaders. She emphasised the complementary yet distinct roles of women and men in conserving the Philippine-endangered brown deer. Her background in community psychology enriched the discussion on human behavioural dimensions in wildlife conservation.
“I am blessed to have the opportunity to share our research and conservation initiatives with the world. This is the first time the brown deer has been reported in this [IDBC] international space. I am grateful to the Department of Science and Technology for the funding, as well as DOrSU and CZU for their steadfast support for the science that we do”, Villegas remarked.
The Philippine presentations showcased the brown deer and Indigenous-led conservation efforts on the global stage, opening new collaborations and attracting scientific interest. It also positions DOrSU as a national leader in studying and conserving the endemic brown deer.
IDBC is the world’s leading scientific congress on deer biology. It takes place only once every four years – the next will be hosted in Japan in 2030. It provides a collaborative platform for deer researchers and enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds, including scientists, farmers, hunters, and conservationists.
