Looks like the crocs are multiplying! Four rare Philippine crocodiles, two nests found in Isabela sanctuary

San Mariano, Isabela – Long recognized as the country's leading stronghold for Philippine crocodile conservation, the municipality of San Mariano has once again underscored its vital role in saving one of the world's rarest reptiles after authorities discovered two nests of the critically endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis), along with two juvenile and two adult crocodiles, during a site validation on July 5.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Philippine crocodile is classified as Critically Endangered and is considered one of the world's rarest crocodilian species.

The discovery was made by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)-Naguilian, in coordination with the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) and other DENR units.

Officials said the two nests contained crocodile eggs, confirming that the area remains an active breeding ground for the freshwater species, which is found only in the Philippines.

The latest discovery further strengthens San Mariano's long-standing reputation as the country's center for community-based Philippine crocodile conservation.

Conservation efforts began more than two decades ago

Conservation efforts in San Mariano began in 1999, when researchers rediscovered a small surviving population of Philippine crocodiles in the wild after the species had disappeared from most parts of Northern Luzon.

The discovery eventually led to the establishment of the Mabuwaya Foundation in 2003, which has since partnered with local communities, the municipal government, the DENR, and various conservation organizations to protect crocodile habitats through scientific research, community education, nest protection, and habitat monitoring.

In 2022, the Philippine Crocodile Conservation Center was established through a partnership among Isabela State University, the Municipal Government of San Mariano, the Mabuwaya Foundation, the DENR, and the Department of Tourism. The facility supports conservation efforts through captive breeding, research, and public education aimed at increasing the species' remaining wild population.

Today, with fewer than 100 adult Philippine crocodiles believed to remain in the wild, the species continues to face serious threats from habitat loss, illegal hunting, and other human activities.

The DENR has appealed to nearby communities to help protect the Philippine crocodile and its habitat, emphasizing that conserving the species also preserves the wetlands that support local biodiversity and livelihoods. Authorities added that the proposed declaration of the area as a Critical Habitat will provide stronger long-term protection for one of the Philippines' most endangered endemic wildlife species.