Crocs are wildlife, not pests

The shrill voice on the radio was too much to bear. “Ano ba yung bayawak, yan ba yung maliit na buwaya?” the commentator asked her giggling colleagues. No madam, the buwaya is not a huge bayawak or butiki. These are three totally different animals, and it would do well for reporters to review their biology lessons before tackling the issue in their programs. News headlines have been full of Lolong the giant crocodile this week, but the reportage has been so uninformed it would make any naturalist flinch while reading the stories. Here are some of the most glaring lapses: 1. “Crocodile-infested” rivers – Okay, so many of us have had problems with cockroach-infested offices and houses; in that context the term is okay because we’re talking about pests. However, crocodiles are not pests. They are wildlife that inhabit waterways in the hinterlands, and if they could talk, they’d probably say it’s the migrants that have been infesting their habitats with garbage. 2. Man-eating crocodile – Really now, humans are not part of the everyday diet of crocodiles and as the gastric lavage showed, there was no indication that Lolong the huge croc had swallowed one either. Most people would be surprised to know that they are not voracious eaters, with captive crocodiles getting fed only three times a week, if I remember my conversations with crocodile breeders in Palawan correctly. However, they are also known as “opportunistic feeders” that will eat whatever is available when they’re hungry, a growing problem in areas where their territorial range has shrunk due to human settlement. 3. Monster crocodile – Yes the size is daunting, but that doesn’t make Lolong a monster in the same way we think of Godzilla or whatever is your cultural reference of a fearsome creature. A crocodile is simply another huge animal that will avoid us if we don’t invade their territories, which brings me to ... 4. “Terrorizing” villages – A very annoying imagery, indeed, considering that the Agusan Marsh has been the habitat of crocodiles long before settlers arrived in the area. Obviously, the issue of encroachment is a complicated one, but the media would do better to spur educated debates instead of reinforcing Pinoy horror movie biases. 5. Lolong as a tourist attraction – Sure, it can be an educational experience, but knowing the penchant of Pinoys to poke fun at caged animals, it would have been better to release him back to the wild. Obviously, this is no longer possible given the hysteria surrounding his capture. Still, it would be great if the government can enforce policies similar to those taken in other countries where there are well-maintained wildlife sanctuaries, and travelers are advised to take precautions against big animals like bears or gorillas. So where did I learn all these things? As it happens, I once had a friend who trapped some of the biggest problem crocodiles, meaning those that are known to have attacked humans, in the Philippine wilderness. Sadly, he’s no longer around. Last January, he was killed by cowardly people who are far more deadly and dangerous than crocodiles.