Crocodile farming in the Philippines

Crocodile farming in the Philippines refers to agricultural industries involving the raising and harvesting of crocodiles for the commercial production of crocodile meat and crocodile leather.

In the Philippines, crocodile farmers breed and raise two species of Philippine crocodiles: the Philippine saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and the Philippine freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis). Farms that trade crocodile skin are regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Crocodiles help maintain the balance of Philippine ecosystems such as wetlands; crocodile farming in the Philippines is also geared towards the rescue and conservation of both C. porosus and the "endangered and endemic" C. mindorensis. Crocodile farms also contribute to tourism in the Philippines and offer public education about crocodiles.

Two species of crocodiles are indigenous to the Philippines: the "saltwater crocodile". Crocodylus porosus, also known as the Indo-Pacific crocodile, thrives in the Indo-Pacific region, Australia, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Thailand. The Mindoro crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is unique to the Philippines that tends to prefer a freshwater habitat. The latter – is considered "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – is found in Mindoro, Busuanga, Palawan, Masbate, Negros , Samar, and in the islands of Sulu. As both are threatened because of loss of their habitats to humans, conservation efforts apply to them both. Crocodile farming under CITES is geared towards the rescue and sustainable exploitation.

The first crocodile breeding farm in the Philippines was started in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in 1987, and operated from its inauguration until 1994 with technical assistance and cooperation from the Japanese government. The Crocodile Farm and Nature Park, founded to prevent the further decline of the two species of Philippine crocodile, whilst promoting socio-economic well-being of local communities. It farms sustainably and is registered with CITES – the first such crocodile farm in the Philippines. It was renamed the Crocodile Farming Institute (CFI). Pioneer veterinarian and journalist Gerry Ortega started working at the CFI in 1988, and became the CFI's director in 1989. The CFI was expanded in 2000 to incorporate a wildlife rescue center, an eco-destination park, and a training center and was renamed as the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC). In 2005, it was reported that the facility was already overpopulated and losing 3–5 million pesos a year.

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