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Crocodylus mindorensis
Posted on September 18, 2004 - 6:09pm :: ISD-Philippines | Nature
Francis Y. Capistrano
September 17-18, 2004 | Businessworld
TF! Editorial Comment: As a hotspot for global biodiversity, the Philippines is blessed with an incredible diversity of plant and animal life scattered on it 7000+ islands. But with a high population density, widespread poverty and corruption, many ecosystems are imperiled and many species are threatened or endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. In the article below, a Philippine species of crocodile, long thought to be extinct in Luzon, is now covered by a in-situ conservation effort in Isabela.
With only an estimated 100 adults believed to be surviving in the Philippine wild, the Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is the most critically endangered species in the world, as declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Massive hunting and destruction of its habitat through illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming, as well as illegal fishing methods, are the main reasons why this species, which is endemic to the Philippines, have massively decreased in number and fragmented their population to different areas.
Also, the notion that all crocodiles are violent and dangerous has caused people to kill these out of ignorance.
"It's a true Filipino. It's small, a bit shy and extremely friendly. There is no reason to fear this croc It's something to be proud of and something to be conserved," said Merlijn Van Weerd, team leader of the Crocodile Reservation, Observance and Conservation (CROC) project in a press conference in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
First found in Mindoro in 1935, the Philippine crocodile has been thought to be extinct in Luzon, until a group of fishermen in San Mariano, Isabela found a crocodile hatchling in Disulap river in 1999. The local government of San Mariano municipality declared the area as a crocodile sanctuary in 2001, the first declared in the country.
There are 27 adult crocodiles found in San Mariano, and this is "ridiculously low," said Mr. Van Weerd.
side from Disulap, there are five other field sites within and near San Mariano which have these crocodiles. They believe that the presence of caves -- where these crocodiles can hide -- have contributed to their survival.
Furthermore, the presence of indigenous peoples (IPs) -- Agta and Kalinga -- in two areas are also believed to protect these reptiles and their habitat. Culturally, there is solidarity between the IPs and the crocodiles: the IPs believe that their ancestors live in the said animals.
Since their rediscovery in 1999, the crocodiles have increased in number because of successful reproduction in 2000 and 2002, said Mr. Van Weerd. Adults have increased from 12 in 2000 to 27 this year. He added that successful reproduction took place again last week.
"We were thinking that if this continues, in 15 years from now, you can say that the Philippine Crocodile is safe from extinction," he said. However, typhoon Harurot in 2003 went through San Mariano, which could have possibly killed more crocodiles due to flash floods and erosion.
Conservation efforts began in 1980 with a comprehensive survey that identified 100 adult crocodiles in the wild around the country. The captive breeding facility in Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, was also established that year.
Similar facilities also exist in other parts of the country, such as the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Davao Crocodile Farm, Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, and the breeding facility in Isabela State University (ISU).
A year after the crocodile was found in San Mariano, the Philippine Crocodile Recovery Team was created. It is composed of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), IUCN, Silliman University, as well as the Melbourne Zoo in Australia and the Gladys Porter Zoo in the United States. A National Recovery Plan was written in 2001.
In Isabela, the CROC Project is the only program in the Philippines which focuses on crocodiles in the wild.
It is also a multi-stakeholder project, implemented by the Mabuwaya (which stands for mabuhay buwaya or long live the crocodile) Foundation, Inc., Cagayan Valley Program on Environment and Development, ISU, DENR, municipal government of San Mariano and local communities, and Leiden University in Netherlands.
The CROC Project, which has an integrated conservation and development approach, has four components.
With the help of ISU students and alumni, the project undergoes research on the field to further study the Philippine crocodile and its habitat.
The project also has a communication, education and public awareness campaign. It has so far conducted 15 school visits to Dunoy lake (a field site where these crocodiles can be easily seen in daylight) and presentations in 87 schools. The project has also set up billboards near Disulap and distributed posters and newsletters.
Actual protection of the crocodiles is executed through a community-based approach, involving the barangays and IPs near the sanctuary and other field sites. This approach is also used in order to establish other crocodile sanctuaries.
Since the project deals not only with crocodiles but also with people, the CROC Project also has a livelihood component. However, this has not been fully implemented yet due to low funds. This component also aims to get land titles for the local folks near the field areas. Aside from this, the local government is providing help through construction of farm-to-market roads and water wells.
"Here, you see the link between crocodile conservation and sustainable livelihood development," said Mr. Van Weerd, pointing out that this is necessary for the people to accept the crocodiles as their own
Project funding comes from international grants and awards. The largest grant the project received is $55,000 from the British Petroleum Conservation Program. The petroleum company granted in 2003 the Follow-Up Award to six young men of the CROC Project: Mr. Van Weerd, research and conservation officers Jessie P. Guerrero, Dominic C. Rodriguez, Bernard A. Tarun, and Samuel P. Telan, and anthropologist Jan van der Ploeg.
Messrs. Guerrero, Rodriguez, Tarun and Telan are graduate students of ISU. Mr. Van der Ploeg is the CVPED coordinator from Leiden University.
Other donors are the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund ($13,000), the Netherlands chapter of IUCN (€10,000) and the Haribon Foundation (PhP250,000).
Mr. Van der Ploeg said that the project only receives funding from grants and awards.
He added that the project is lobbying for the government to assign funds so as to ensure the continuity of the said project.
He also said that there are 30 conservationists working with the project. "They are emblems of Filipino conservationists. They get paid PhP8,000 and they risk their lives for it," he said.
Internet Source: Link to Article
September 17-18, 2004 | Businessworld
TF! Editorial Comment: As a hotspot for global biodiversity, the Philippines is blessed with an incredible diversity of plant and animal life scattered on it 7000+ islands. But with a high population density, widespread poverty and corruption, many ecosystems are imperiled and many species are threatened or endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. In the article below, a Philippine species of crocodile, long thought to be extinct in Luzon, is now covered by a in-situ conservation effort in Isabela.
With only an estimated 100 adults believed to be surviving in the Philippine wild, the Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is the most critically endangered species in the world, as declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Massive hunting and destruction of its habitat through illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming, as well as illegal fishing methods, are the main reasons why this species, which is endemic to the Philippines, have massively decreased in number and fragmented their population to different areas.
Also, the notion that all crocodiles are violent and dangerous has caused people to kill these out of ignorance.
"It's a true Filipino. It's small, a bit shy and extremely friendly. There is no reason to fear this croc It's something to be proud of and something to be conserved," said Merlijn Van Weerd, team leader of the Crocodile Reservation, Observance and Conservation (CROC) project in a press conference in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
First found in Mindoro in 1935, the Philippine crocodile has been thought to be extinct in Luzon, until a group of fishermen in San Mariano, Isabela found a crocodile hatchling in Disulap river in 1999. The local government of San Mariano municipality declared the area as a crocodile sanctuary in 2001, the first declared in the country.
There are 27 adult crocodiles found in San Mariano, and this is "ridiculously low," said Mr. Van Weerd.
side from Disulap, there are five other field sites within and near San Mariano which have these crocodiles. They believe that the presence of caves -- where these crocodiles can hide -- have contributed to their survival.
Furthermore, the presence of indigenous peoples (IPs) -- Agta and Kalinga -- in two areas are also believed to protect these reptiles and their habitat. Culturally, there is solidarity between the IPs and the crocodiles: the IPs believe that their ancestors live in the said animals.
Since their rediscovery in 1999, the crocodiles have increased in number because of successful reproduction in 2000 and 2002, said Mr. Van Weerd. Adults have increased from 12 in 2000 to 27 this year. He added that successful reproduction took place again last week.
"We were thinking that if this continues, in 15 years from now, you can say that the Philippine Crocodile is safe from extinction," he said. However, typhoon Harurot in 2003 went through San Mariano, which could have possibly killed more crocodiles due to flash floods and erosion.
Conservation efforts began in 1980 with a comprehensive survey that identified 100 adult crocodiles in the wild around the country. The captive breeding facility in Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, was also established that year.
Similar facilities also exist in other parts of the country, such as the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, Davao Crocodile Farm, Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, and the breeding facility in Isabela State University (ISU).
A year after the crocodile was found in San Mariano, the Philippine Crocodile Recovery Team was created. It is composed of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), IUCN, Silliman University, as well as the Melbourne Zoo in Australia and the Gladys Porter Zoo in the United States. A National Recovery Plan was written in 2001.
In Isabela, the CROC Project is the only program in the Philippines which focuses on crocodiles in the wild.
It is also a multi-stakeholder project, implemented by the Mabuwaya (which stands for mabuhay buwaya or long live the crocodile) Foundation, Inc., Cagayan Valley Program on Environment and Development, ISU, DENR, municipal government of San Mariano and local communities, and Leiden University in Netherlands.
The CROC Project, which has an integrated conservation and development approach, has four components.
With the help of ISU students and alumni, the project undergoes research on the field to further study the Philippine crocodile and its habitat.
The project also has a communication, education and public awareness campaign. It has so far conducted 15 school visits to Dunoy lake (a field site where these crocodiles can be easily seen in daylight) and presentations in 87 schools. The project has also set up billboards near Disulap and distributed posters and newsletters.
Actual protection of the crocodiles is executed through a community-based approach, involving the barangays and IPs near the sanctuary and other field sites. This approach is also used in order to establish other crocodile sanctuaries.
Since the project deals not only with crocodiles but also with people, the CROC Project also has a livelihood component. However, this has not been fully implemented yet due to low funds. This component also aims to get land titles for the local folks near the field areas. Aside from this, the local government is providing help through construction of farm-to-market roads and water wells.
"Here, you see the link between crocodile conservation and sustainable livelihood development," said Mr. Van Weerd, pointing out that this is necessary for the people to accept the crocodiles as their own
Project funding comes from international grants and awards. The largest grant the project received is $55,000 from the British Petroleum Conservation Program. The petroleum company granted in 2003 the Follow-Up Award to six young men of the CROC Project: Mr. Van Weerd, research and conservation officers Jessie P. Guerrero, Dominic C. Rodriguez, Bernard A. Tarun, and Samuel P. Telan, and anthropologist Jan van der Ploeg.
Messrs. Guerrero, Rodriguez, Tarun and Telan are graduate students of ISU. Mr. Van der Ploeg is the CVPED coordinator from Leiden University.
Other donors are the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund ($13,000), the Netherlands chapter of IUCN (€10,000) and the Haribon Foundation (PhP250,000).
Mr. Van der Ploeg said that the project only receives funding from grants and awards.
He added that the project is lobbying for the government to assign funds so as to ensure the continuity of the said project.
He also said that there are 30 conservationists working with the project. "They are emblems of Filipino conservationists. They get paid PhP8,000 and they risk their lives for it," he said.
Internet Source: Link to Article
