Philippine crocodile hatchling head-start and re-enforcement program in San Mariano, Isabela Province, Luzon, the Philippines

Summary

The Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis), likely the world's most threatened crocodilian with fewer than 100 mature wild individuals, persists in San Mariano, Isabela Province, in three linked river sub-populations totaling about 23 non-hatchling animals as of December 2007. The Mabuwaya Foundation built local support through community engagement, training and paying a 12-person local protection group to enforce conservation laws and guard nests across three declared crocodile sanctuaries. Breeding occurred at all three sites in 2005, though one nest was plowed under by a farmer and another lost nine hatchlings to army ants; the nine survivors launched a hatchling head-start program. In 2006, guarded and undiscovered nests together produced 54 hatchlings, of which 35 were collected for head-starting; after early inter-specific fighting caused losses, crocodiles were moved to individual tanks, and all 35 have survived since. Two earlier head-started crocodiles released in 2006 and 2007 adapted well to the wild with no intervention needed, and four more juveniles released into a constructed pond beside the Disulap River in February 2007 also thrived, monitored by radio telemetry and daily observation. A further 31 crocodiles were slated for release in February 2008. Obtaining a release permit was difficult given the lack of any prior Philippine crocodile re-introduction precedent. The project rated itself Successful, citing the trained protection group, a low-cost, effective head-start facility exceeding survival targets, and successful early releases into both altered and natural habitat.