Palawan's Crocodile Farm

Welcome to Crocolandia

by lakwatserong tatay

The Crocodile Farm is almost just like any zoo, but with a lot of crocs. This facility is found in Irawan, Palawan. Skeletal and skin remains of the biggest crocodile caught in Palawan were exhibited at the museum. The croc nursery contains most of the living crocs in the farm. There were about 20 tanks in the nursery, each housing about 15 to 20 baby crocs. We then climbed to a path where we could view the adult crocodiles under us. Before going back to the bus, there was croc photo op where the tourist pays php30 for a chance to have his picture taken with a baby crocodile. Most of the balikbayans and foreigners lined up for that, while I went to check out the souvenir shop which was a few meters away from our tour bus. I got myself a star necklace and a couple of mini rain sticks for my friends.

Welcome to Palawan Crocodile Farm 

The tour inside to this facility usually took about 20-30 minutes, with entrance fee of php40, it just on the crocodile facility, and there's a part on this Crocodile Farm a Mini Zoo facility. But sad to say i think it has to be rehabilitate, some of the cages doesn't have anything, and some of the structures were already broken. But before i go to the Mini Zoo Park, let me tour you around the Crocodile Facility. Below picture is the start of the tour where a tour guide/facilitator discussing the difference between those crocs, how they live and treated and of course discuss the skeletal bone structure shown also below.

The journet starts here....

This enormous skeleton from a salt water crocodile was captured in the Southern Town of Batarazza after killing a child. This skeletal bone crocodile is measuring 17 foot. But most of the crocs in the farm are not big as this one. Below are some of the my photos about this enormous skeleton of a crocodile.

Real Bone of Very Huge Crocodile...a must see...^_^

The Head and it's Teeth...

My photo ops....^_^

So after our encounter with the enormouse skeleton of a crocodile. The tour guide starts to walk towards to the Crocodile Hatchling House. At first, im not aware why there were so many white bath tub like, but if you will look inside of it. There were so many crocodile hatchlings, im not really sure about there ages but one thing i could really say is there were so many of them...hahahahaha...

Welcome to Hatchling House.....

Here's a brief information about this Crocodiles:

Philippine Freshwater / Mindoro Crocodile:

Scientific Name: Crocodylus mindorensis
Local Name: Buwaya, Buaya
Average Length: 2 – 3 meters
Feeding Habit: Hunts other animals for food
Habitat: Freshwater swamps, lakes and rivers
Characteristics: Solitary or in pairs; territoriality is high for adults during breeding season.
                        Generally will not openly attack unless provoked or threatened.
Lifespan: up to 100 years
Conservation Status: Critically endangered and it is the highest priority for crocodilian species in need for    conservation. Only found in the Philippines.

The Juvenile Crocs.

Add to that im not really pretty sure if this crocodile is will be used for commercial purposes or the farm is still building up it's stock for the future.

After our enchanting experience with the different juvenile crocs, where now going outside this pen and walk above the outdoor pens where big live and adult crocodile can be found.

Saltwater Crocodile / Indo Pacific Crocodile:

Scientific Name: Crocodylus porosus
Local Name: Buwaya, Buaya
Average Length: 6 – 7 meters (males)
                          4 – 5 meters (females)
Feeding Habit: Hunts other animals for food
Habitat: Brackish waters, swamps and rivers
Characteristics: Highly territorial, more aggressive and known to attack openly
Lifespan: Up to 100 years

Conservation Status: Endangered due to over hunting, indiscriminate killing and habitat loss, since its hide is very valuable in the leather industry.

One Big Croc.

The experience walking above this outdoor pens was pretty intense because you may think, what if this walkway collapsed or some tourist are kidding around, something like that. Most of this big outdoor pens was really crowded with big crocodiles, im not really sure of their ages but one thing that im really sure with this crocodile could really swallow a adult person like me, or could be a "pulutan" for all of those crocs...hehehehe...^_^.

Adult Crocodiles in the Outdoor Pens

After the Crocolandia, next stop is the free time roaming around the grounds farm where a variety of animals unique to Palawan are kept.

Welcom to Palawan Nature Park

And there our nature walk starts......

One of the biggest tree on this farm.

Seeing this unique animals from Palawan is one of the most interesting part of the farm. Bearcats, eagles, bearded pigs, and some unusual animals are penned up in large enclosures.

Palawan Bearcat - Binturong

Palawan Binturong
Scientific Name: Arctictis binturong whitei
Binturongs live most of their lives in trees. Their tails are well-adapted for grasping to assist them with life in the trees. It is used as extra hand when climbing trees and hanging on branches. When resting in a tree, it will lie on its stomach with its feet dangling, but its tail will have a firm hold, protecting it from falling. They feed mostly on fruits and sometimes small animals.

Can be found: Palawan: other subspecies found in Northern India, Indo-China, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

Some migrant birds.

Parrots.

Monkey.

Within this park is a souvenir shop is located, where you could buy some of Palawan's Native Crops and of course all about crocs souvenirs....^_^

I bought one of this...^_^

Ostrich.

Palawan Hornbill - Kalaw

White-Bellied Sea Eagle

Hope you will help me with this (?)...^_^

Here my photo opportunity with a live croc, but just a baby croc.....hehehehe...^_^. My kiss with Crocky.

Pakiss nga.....muah!

Thanks Carlo for this shot....parang ang pogi ko dito....hehehehehe....

Lakwatserong Tatay X-plored this place.

This place is one of our group stops when were in Puerto Princesa. This farm is a must visit when you have the chance to go to Palawan. Aside from the different tourist spots in Puerto Princesa, this spot is always been included in the city tour package of Puerto Princesa.
Yan, nakaisang post nako sa Puerto Princesa Tour namin.......watch for my other stories.....^_^

This story is part of : Five Days of Trip at Palawan