Crocodile center in N. Cotabato adopts “Crokie”

Tuesday 7th of August 2012

KORONADAL CITY, August 7 (PIA) -- A crocodile was recently turned over to the care of the Philippine Crocodile Rescue and Breeding Center (PCRBC) at the Forest and Eco-Tourism Park, inside the provincial capitol in Amas, Kidapawan City.

Named “Crokie,” the 8-foot long, more-than-100-pound female crocodile was donated to the PCRBC by Tita Alvarico, a businesswoman from Cotabato City.

The Alvaricos had taken care of Crokie as a “family pet” for 20 years.

Nofrio A. Alvarico, Jr., Tita’s son of owner Mrs. Tita Alvarico said, their family got interested in donating the crocodile to the center after they heard of the launching of the PCRBC last year. They then inquired regarding the process and requirements to transfer the crocodile to proper authorities.

“It was not easy for us to part with Crokie because we have kept her as our “pet” since I was in Grade V when she was just a newly hatched egg. Our family has learned to love her,” he said.

“But for Crokie to be able to reproduce and to keep our children out of danger we have to give her up. Our family’s greatest achievement will be when someday, we see Crokie with her progeny.”

The family hopes that Crokie will be properly cared for under a specialized breeding program at the PCRBC as her “new home.”

The Alvaricos formally turned over the crocodile to the center on July 27.

Crokie’s turn-over to the PCRBC was through the support of Crocodylus Porosus Philippines Incorporated (CPPI) for Ligawasan and Agusan Marsh Conservation Priority Areas led by Dr. Cayetano Pomares and Mr. Rainier I. Manalo.

It was made in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) – Cotabato Chapter headed by Board of Director Chairperson Bai Fatima P. Sinsuat, the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the state-run University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Local Government Units, and other conservation stakeholders.

Crokie is the first crocodile donated to the PCRBC after it was launched last September 2011 during the Kalivungan Festival.

Her transport from Cotabato City and release to her new home was facilitated by an alumnus and four graduating students of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Animal Science from USM, namely: Rizal Alejo, Kaizer Asug, Tito J. Villanueva, Julius Gil and a certain Sumague.

The feeding and maintenance of the captive crocodile is being managed by skilled care-taker from the CPPI.

PCRBC is a project of the provincial government implemented under the leadership of Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza.

It is managed by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist under the Techno Gabay Program and the Provincial Farmers Information & Technology Services (PLGU-FITS) in collaboration with International Union for Conservation of Nature/Species, Survival Commission-Crocodile Specialists Group (IUCN/SSC-CSG), Cotabato Agricultural Resources Research and Development Consortium, (CARRDEC), and Crocodylus Porosus Philippines Incorporated (CPPI).

The purpose project aims to establish a rescue and breeding center that will take care of “surplus” and “rescued” endangered species of animals for captive breeding and return the offspring to the protected areas in the marsh.

It also helps promote public awareness of the crocodile conservation area in Central Mindanao specifically for the academic and research institutions nearby in conducting their developmental research concerning the endangered species conservation and its environment.

It also serves as venue for student training and destination for educational tours. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12/IDCD-PGO-North Cotabato)