3 crocodiles rescued in Sulu, Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – At least three crocodiles, considered endangered, have been rescued here and in Sulu, local environment and wildlife officials said yesterday.

Tito Gadon, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said one of the reptiles, an eight-foot saltwater crocodile, was rescued in Pangutaran town.

Gadon said another saltwater crocodile measuring four feet was also rescued in a west coast village here while the owner of a 7.1-footer freshwater crocodile surrendered it to authorities. 

Veronica de Guzman, project director of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, said the rescued reptiles would be brought to Palawan.

“Whenever we rescue crocodiles, we have to bring them to the center to take care of them and for the purposes of conservation,” she said. – Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude