Crocodile Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines

My plan was to head to Robinson’s Puerto Princesa to have lunch with my students but when I arrived where they were they already had lunch. When a jeepney going to Irawan passed by having a placard that says ‘Crocodile Farm‘ I asked them immediately if they wanted to go to the Crocodile Farm, they all said yes. But we were with friends, who tagged along, that did not want to go there. They said that they have already been there and it was not an enjoyable place for a visit and suggested that we should just go straight to Robinsons.

I had to make a quick decision whether we should go to Crocodile Farm or not. I based my decision on three reasons.

1. Just like my students, I still have not been to the Crocodile Farm.
2. The ones opposing were just tagging along.
3. What else are we going to do in Robinsons?
4. Enjoyment is relative.

I told them my decision that since they already had lunch, we will first be going to the Crocodile Farm to get hungry and after that we’ll be heading to Robinsons to have a snack. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone with my hunger as the sacrifice. The ones tagging along decided that they will be going home instead. A reminder to me that whatever decision we make, we cannot make everyone happy. I just had to prioritize to whom this trip was for.

So we waited again for another jeepney to Irawan to pass by and rode it going to the Crocodile Farm. So after about 20 minutes and 18 Pesos for a jeepney ride the driver dropped us off the gate of the Crocodile Farm.

Upon entering a guard approached us and told us that we should first register for the guided tour. Since we were all above 13 years yet still young enough not to reach the Senior Citizen age our Registration Fee would be 40 Pesos/persons. Then we waited for about 15 minutes for the guided tour at 1:30 PM.

When we got to the reception area, there was this huge crocodile skin and skeleton. But another thing that caught my eye was the skull of a sperm whale that was recovered from the Tubbataha Reefs. It was amazing to see the massive skeletons of those two beings. Makes me realize how fragile we are.

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Then the guided tour started explaining what were the skeletons were and what is the Crocodile Farm doing there. Then we started walking to where the hatchlings were. While our guide was explaining I got a bit curious so I threw a few questions here and there and it was amazing what other information about the crocodiles you would get by just asking like how they could control the number of male and females when they hatch.

Then we went up to a bridge walkway where we could see from atop different crocodiles.

At the end of the bridge was the end of the guided tour. We could now go have a picture with a baby crocodile for 175 Pesos. Which we did. And it was enjoyable to see the students fearfully carrying the crocodile. Phew! Good thing it was not me who was carrying the crocodile.

Then the staff told us that we could go around their 4 hectare compound to see lots of other animals.

Since the route around the place did not have a straight path that we could follow, the students kept asking me where we should go next. Seeing that it was all our first time here I just told them that they should decide by “following their heart”.

When the students saw the situation with the Wild Boar (Baboy Damo), or what was labeled as Bearded Pig, they felt pity for it, as it was living in a cage filled with mud. They told me that Wild Boars don’t live like that.

Going around through the different trails, I admit it was a bit disappointing.

1. They said it was 4 hectares but when we walked along the path I do not think we even covered a hectare.
2. I was expecting many animals, just like in their head office at Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife in Quezon City, but there were only a few.
3. Most cages were not filled with animals.

Rethinking about reason 2, although I was disappointed with the few animals in the park I always have to think that the Crocodile Farm is actually a Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center. Maybe the animals that were featured before had recovered and were introduced again to the wild that’s why we did not find the porcupine and many other animals in there. But there’s always two sides of the coin. I just hoped that the other side wasn’t the reason.

After the walk around through their “zoo” we were now ready to exit the Crocodile Farm. But wait there’s more! There’s another station there where we could take a picture with a Palawan Bearcat! This one was my favorite part of the whole Crocodile Farm experience. I’m sorry crocodiles but in terms of cuteness the Palawan Bearcat wins!

After our picture taking session with the Palawan Bearcat I looked at the small basin at the back, then I saw a turtle with a white stripe at the back. It was my first time seeing a Palawan Forest Turtle! Or what we locally call Bakoko. I knew this when I attended a planning seminar by the Katala Foundation in the Baranggay Hall of Dumarao, Roxas, Palawan.

After all the walking and pictures that we’ve taken I think we can conclude that I really enjoyed my experience in the Crocodile Farm. It was fun seeing the different animals of Palawan but what really made the experience more enjoyable was the people I was with who were game to go around and crazy to throw jokes here and there.

After about 1 hour and 33 minutes (2:42 PM) inside the Crocodile Farm, we were now out of the farm and walking towards the Police Checkpoint where the multicabs going to Puerto Princesa City Town Proper can be located.

If you’re looking for other environmental spots in Puerto Princesa City, visit the Environmental Enforcement Museum.

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Crocodile Farm Details

The Crocodile Farm is run by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and is actually a Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center.

Rates and Schedule

The schedules are for the guided tours which is required to do when you visit the Crocodile Farm.

How to get there

From the town proper of Puerto Princesa City, ride a multicab that is going to Irawan. Tell the driver to drop you off at the Crocodile Farm. Fare would be around 15 to 20 Pesos, depending where you are coming from the Town Proper. Travel Time is approximately 20 minutes.

The Crocodile Farm is actually a part of Puerto Princesa City Tour.

How to get out of there

From the gate of the Crocodile Farm walk around 150 meters to the Police Checkpoint. That’s where the Irawan Multicabs wait for passengers going to the Town Proper of Puerto Princesa City. Fare is around 15 to 20 Pesos, depending on where you going to the Town Proper of Puerto Princesa. Travel Time is approximately 20 minutes.

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