Isla Biodiversity Conservation, Inc.

A Forum on Crocodiles in the Philippines was successfully held from Jan 31 - Feb 2 at the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP). The gathering was intended to be an opportunity for communication between people of various concerns with crocodiles in the country. The activity was jointly organized by the NMP, Crocodylus Porosus Philippines, Inc., Silliman University and the Veterinary Office of Manila.

The forum was the first of its kind in the Philippines, where various topics on crocodiles including its conservation, government policy and regulation, commercialization and its manifestation in Philippine culture were discussed. The event was well-attended with participants from various sectors concerned - scientists, government officials, conservationists, crocodile farmers, academics, skin traders and zoo managers and owners - and of a variety of nationalities - Filipino, American, Dutch, French, Australian, Japanese and so on.

Isla President Carl Oliveros made an oral presentation of crocodile conservation work being done on Dalupiri Island.

In separate workshops, important resolutions were formulated including: initiating the re-introduction of the Philippine crocodile in Isabela and Bukidnon provinces; requesting the streamlining of government procedures that relate to crocodile farming; requesting local school officials in localities with crocodile populations to include crocodile conservation topics in their curriculum.