BALABAC, Palawan — A 6-foot saltwater crocodile trapped in a water tank was rescued Wednesday morning by environment and law enforcement authorities at Sitio Monsod, Barangay Melville in this island town in southern Palawan.
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) wildlife traffic monitoring officer Jonathan Montalba said the sub-adult female crocodile fell inside the water tank while it was chasing a duck.
It was released back to a river at Sitio Paitan, Brgy. Melville on the same day after two hours of rescue operations.
The crocodile was rescued on May 13 by elements of the Balabac Special Boat Unit (SBU) and troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team-4 (MBLT-4).
Montalba said the rescue was difficult because the crocodile was not responding to the rope that the rescuers initially tried to use.
“Hindi agad siya naiakyat, siguro mahina ang katawan niya kaya hindi siya nagre-respond sa tali na sana ay maiakyat siya. Mainit ang tubig sa old tank kaya siguro mahina ang katawan niya,” Montalba told Palawan News.
The rescue and release operation was performed by a team from the Balabac SBU led by P/SSg. Noli Andrew Briones, a professionally trained crocodile first responder, along with Pat. Rex Galang of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), MBLT-4, Philippine Army CAA and SCAA, and PCSDS.
