Range: Once common throughout much of the Philippines the Philippine Crocodile now faces eminent extinction unless drastic measures are taken to educate the population concerning this animal. 

Habitat: Strictly freshwater species.

Size: 7-10 feet, relatively small crocodile.

Status: Critically endangered assumed less than 100 living in the wild.

Rain Forest Facts: The Philippine Crocodile is recognized by the IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) as the most threatened species of crocodile in the world and is listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered. It is generally agreed that no more than 100 adults remain in the wild.

General life history is poorly known and current knowledge is mostly based on captive observations. Courting and mating occurs from January to May, with eggs laid between February and October, and a peak in the April-July period. This species is a mound nester, with the females using sand, dry grass, rotting leaves and twigs, which they scrape together with their back feet. Eggs are hard-shelled and clutch size ranges from 8-35 eggs.

The young crocodiles hatch after about 80 days at an incubation temperature of 30-31?C and hatchlings average 270mm in total length. As in some other crocodile species, females have been observed opening the nest and carrying hatchlings to the water.

It was only the early 1980's that the Philippine government publicly recognized the fate of this once wide ranging anima.  Surveys conducted at the time indicated less than 1,000 adults in the wild (juvenile crocodiles are rarely if ever counted in censuses based on the high mortality rate).  As is often the case loss of habitat coupled with unsustainable hunting by the local peoples led to the significant decline in the wild population .  

This led to the establishment of a captive breeding program at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and a joint venture with the Japanese Government to create the Crocodile Farming Institute (CFI) at Puerto Princesa City on Palawan. Breeding has been successful at both locations and the CFI now holds just over 1,200 Philippine Crocodiles. Worldwide interest in contributing to the conservation of the species resulted in agreements with, and transfer of crocodiles to Melbourne Zoo, Australia, and Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, USA, through Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs). These developments provided the foundation for subsequent provision of funds and other support, captive breeding at Gladys Porter, and active promotion of the crocodile and its conservation in both countries (including funding a community awareness poster in the Philippines by Melbourne Zoo).