This wildlife sanctuary was declared a protected area for its highly unique and important biological and physical attributes. One of the attractions in Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is the Tinagong Dagat, a lake which holds water during the rainy season but disappears during the dry season, hence its name. Folkloric tale disclosed that the locals considered this body of water as a mythical sea on top of the mountain as they observed high and low tide scenes.
Unique Flora: Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary houses a total of 963 species of flora belonging to 427 genera and 166 families,729 of which are angiosperms, 27 gymnosperms, 152 ferns, 13 fern allies, 17 mosses, 13liverworts, and 13 lichens.Other globally threatened species of flora, such as Paphiopedilum ciliolare, Diospyros philippinensis, Dendrobium sanderae var. surigaense,and Mangifera altissima are likewise located in this sanctuary.Shorea (S. astylosa, S. polysperma, S. Contorta, S. guiso and S. negrosensis are likewise available here
Unique Fauna: Philippine Eagle, (Pithecophaga jefferyi), Philippine Cockatoo(Cacatua heamatopygia), Arhopala Eridanus davalma, Taraka hamada dustinkeani, Paruparocebuensis hamiguitanensis sspn.,the highlyrare Delias magsadana, Stejgener’s Megophrys(Megophrys stejnegeri), Mueller’s Toad(Ansoniamuelleri), pointed‐snouted tree frog(Philautus acutirostris),Philippine Woodland Frog (Limnonectes magnus)