A saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) was sighted in Balabac, Palawan by a local and tourists last week.
In a Facebook post, Jionel Rain Concepcion Bejo shared that they saw the crocodile while on a boat in Purina, Barangay Catagupan, Balabac. The reptile, according to Bejo, was almost as long as a small boat.
“Nakita lang po namin habang nasa bangka kami. Dito kasi ako na-assign magturo pero taga Narra ako,” Bejo wrote.
“Lagi na rin kaming nakakakita ng buwaya dito sa Balabac,” he added.
Another tourist who spoke with Palawan News confirmed that they also spotted crocodiles while on vacation in Balabac last week. According to the visitor, they saw two crocodiles while aboard a boat en route to a resort in the area.
Meanwhile, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) acknowledged the ongoing human-crocodile conflict in Balabac. PCSDS Executive Director Atty. Teodoro Jose Matta noted the growing concern.
“Actually, kasi, on two levels ‘yan. Na-mention ko na ito sa World Global Wildlife Program ng World Bank na mayroon talaga tayong human-crocodile conflict sa Balabac. That’s getting out of hand already,” he said.
“There are two concerns. Number 1 is ma-disturb ‘yung natural habitat ng crocodile, and pangalawa is ‘yung safety issue ng mga nandun. Very unpredictable kasi ang behavior ng crocodile. It is dangerous so do not even go near them lalo na kung malaki na,” he added.
He emphasized the importance of protecting the crocodiles’ natural habitat while also ensuring the safety of local residents and tourists visiting the area.
