PHILIPPINE CROCODILE

There are less than 20 adult Philippine crocodiles (Crocodylus mindorensis) left in the wild, and it is feared that the species’ population will continue to decline despite conservation efforts. A couple of the dangers the Philippine crocodile faces are habitat loss and entanglement in fishing nests. While the Wildlife Act, or Republic Act No. 9147, protects the Philippine crocodile and carries a penalty of six years in prison or a fine of P100,000 or both for those charged with killing one of the species, Philippine crocodiles are still in high danger of the illegal reptile trade, based on a 2018 report by Erwin Mascarinas for Philippine Daily Inquirer. In January of this year, it was revealed that a number of unique reptiles, including the Philippine crocodile, could be bought on Facebook, according to a 2018 article in Sunstar.