Residents in Bataraza, Palawan capture 14-foot saltwater crocodile

Residents of Barangay Rio Tuba in Bataraza, Palawan banded together to capture a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) that wandered into their community — this, amid reports that at least 15 dogs have gone missing in their neighborhood. 

In Kuya Kim Atienza's report on "24 Oras" Friday, Samuel Pagadora, one of the residents who helped capture the crocodile, shared that they covered the animal's head with a cloth and tied its snout with a rope before pulling it back to the shore. 

After the residents captured the crocodile, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), along with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), headed to the area to check on the crocodile, which had sustained many wounds. 

"Kasama ang DENR, pinuntahan natin 'yung area to check and to rescue the crocodile natin dahil marami na itong nakitang sugat at mataas na 'yung stress level. Naalis natin 'yung buwaya roon at na-i-travel back papuntang Puerto Princesa City," said PCSD spokesperson John Vincent Fabello, 

Per the report, the crocodile is now under the care of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue Center.

Fabella said that the method the residents used to capture the crocodile was risky, noting that only experts have the authority to conduct the extraction of the animal. 

"Mali 'yung ginawa ng mga residente na hulihin 'yung buwaya. Under the Wildlife Act, hindi tayo basta-basta nanghuhuli ng buwaya, lalo na kung endangered species ito. Ang may karapatan lang na mag-extract ng buwaya from the wild ay 'yung mga agencies na merong expertise," he said. 

Meanwhile, this is not the first time that a crocodile wandered into the community. Back in October, a man was found dead in Sitio Marabahay, Barangay Rio Tuba in Bataraza after he was attacked by a crocodile while sleeping in his boat. 

"Marami na. Minsan maglabas ako diyan, may masalubong ako tig-dalawang piraso.Minsan kung magtawid 'yan sa ilog, kita namin kahit may araw," said Pagadora. 

—CDC, GMA Integrated News