50 Philippine crocodiles reintroduced into
Dicatian Lake, Divilacan, Isabela
Press release; for immediate release; 4 August 2009
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On Friday 31 July 2009, 50 captive-bred
Philippine crocodiles were released into
the wild in Dicatian Lake, Barangay
Dicatian, Municipality of Divilacan, Isabela
Province, Luzon Island. The reintroduction
event was led by Mayor Venturito Bulan of
Divilacan, Barangay Captain Felino
Libunao of Dicatian, Director Glenn
Rebong of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue
and Conservation Center, Josie De Leon of
the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau,
Merlijn van Weerd of the Mabuwaya
Foundation and invited guests, local
government officials and community
members.
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Arrival of the release party by plane in the NSMNP
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The critically endangered Philippine
crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is the
most severely threatened crocodile species
in the World. It is endemic to the Philippines;
it occurs nowhere else. The total population
surviving in the wild is estimated at only 100
mature individuals. The last wild Philippine
crocodiles are restricted to northern Luzon
and southwest Mindanao. Philippine
crocodiles are relatively small and pose no
danger to humans unless provoked.
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Crocodile Release.
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The released crocodiles were bred in the
Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation
Center (PWRCC) of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR). The Isabela-based Mabuwaya
Foundation implemented a
community-based crocodile conservation
program with funding from the
UK-registered Rufford Maurice Laing
Foundation. The released crocodiles are
about 1.2 meters (4 feet) long. Ten
crocodiles have been fitted with radio
transmitters. Their movements and
adaptation will be monitored by the
Mabuwaya Foundation and the DENR to
gather more scientific information as a
basis for future crocodile reintroductions
elsewhere.
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Small crocodile for release
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The Barangay Council of Dicatian has
approved the reintroduction and has
declared the lake a Philippine crocodile
sanctuary through a Barangay ordinance.
The Local Government Unit of Divilacan
has also supported the release of
crocodiles in the lake. No people live
along the lake which is surrounded by
forest. Nature loving tourists are welcome
to visit the lake and see wild Philippine
crocodiles and other endemic wildlife up
close. An observation tower and campsite
have been constructed next to the lake.
The small ecotourism project is expected
to provide benefits to the local community
living near the lake and to the municipality
of Divilacan.
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Released juvenile crocodile
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Dicatian Lake is situated in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP), the largest
and biologically the most diverse protected area of the Philippines. The NSMNP has
gained even more importance with this crocodile reintroduction and now protects the
largest single Philippine crocodile population in the wild.
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juvenile Philippine crocodile
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The release of 50 Philippine crocodiles in Dicatian Lake is a major step towards a
recovery of the wild population and the future survival of this species.
For more information please contact Marites Balbas (Communication Officer Mabuwaya
Foundation: Tel: +63 (0)921 5758535; Email: mikaela_tess@yahoo.com) or Merlijn van
Weerd (Director Mabuwaya Foundation, Email: merlijnvanweerd@yahoo.com)
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Released Philippine crocodile
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All Photos by
Merlijn van Weerd/Mabuwaya Foundation
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