CROCODILE FARM and Nature Park

Located at the South National Highway in Baranggay Irawan Puerto Princesa City is the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center also known as the Palawan Crocodile Farm and Nature Park.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The crocodile farm is not just a popular tourist destination, it also serves as a research center for those who study conservation and Palawan's endangered species. It is run by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Last summer of 2014, my friends and I went on a DIY version of the Puerto Princesa City Tour.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Our first stop, the Crocodile Farm at Irawan.

A 30-minute mutlicab or jeepney ride will bring you there from the town proper.

Upon arriving at the Park, you first need to secure a ticket from their ticket booth. The entrance fee costs P40. The tour rates is actually P40 (for 13 yrs. old and above), P30 (for senior citizens), P20 (for 7-12yrs. old) and free of charge if 6 yrs. old and below.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

After securing your ticket, you may now proceed to the park's waiting area. The park has scheduled tours with 30-minute intervals. They have guided tours which start at around 8:30 am. Their lunch break is scheduled at 12nn to 1pm. The schedule for the afternoon guided tours start at 1:00 pm.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Before you go inside the park to start your tour, you can first roam around to take photos at the waiting area.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The tours start at the park's reception area. During the time of our visit, there was an awesome lot of people that's why we didn't had the chance to have our photos taken in there with the giant crocodile skin and skeleton. After the tour however, we decided to go back to the reception area to have our photos taken. And we successfully did.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

This is the park's Crocodile Mascot. :)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

As you can see, this is the giant crocodile's skin and skeleton encased in a glass chest. 

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The crocodile was caught in the municipality of Bataraza down South. It is said to have eaten a young girl, that's why it was trapped and was eventually caught by the residents
.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

According to the tourist guide, the crocodile died due to stress. Just like what happened to Lolong (the world's largest crocodile caught somewhere in Agusan del Sur i think).That's why humans should avoid stressing out hahaha.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

This remains of the crocodile shows us how big crocodiles can grow. 

Another attraction at their reception area is this huge skull of the sperm whale which was recovered from the reefs of Tubbataha.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

From the reception area we were led to the hatchling house. 

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

There are some parts in the farm where tourists are not allowed to enter.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

THE HATCHLING HOUSE

The second stop of the tour is the hatchling house.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

It is a place where young crocodiles are kept. :)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

In here you will get to see a lot of baby crocodiles up close. These baby crocs are kept in tubs. 

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

There are saltwater and fresh water crocodiles in here.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

In the hatchling house, the crocodiles are segregated into different levels of maturity.  

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Visitors are not allowed to stick their hands or cameras above the tubs because the baby crocs can jump/snap and your arm/hand might get bitten. The flash of the cameras are also asked to be turned off while taking pictures.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

A few steps from the hatchling house is the crocodile den for the adult crocodiles.

The next stop of the tour, the big crocs.

LIVE CROCS

The last stop is the Cage of the Living Crocs. At the far end of this bridge is the end of the guided tour.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The picture above shows the metal pathway where the tourists could walk over the dens. This is where you can see the big ones. Below the steel bridge are the adult crocodiles who freely roam around their cages. 

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

One of the crocodiles is almost of the same size as the encaged crocodile skeleton at the lobby.

I think this one (refer to the picture below) measures about 13-18 ft. long.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Be very careful with the gadgets you use while taking pictures of the crocodiles/selfies because once it falls in the crocodile pit you can't retrieve it anymore. You may actually still retrieve the phone but for sure it will be useless.

There was a recent incident of an iPhone 6 which fell in the crocodile pit and it was no longer retrieved for the crocodiles already munched on it. (Read article here: )

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

After the guided tour, you can explore their Nature park, which is like a mini zoo. There will no longer be any tour guides here, you will just have to go on exploring by yourselves. Don't worry because you will not get lost in there.

PHOTO OPPS WITH THE BABY CROCS

After the guided tour we had our photos taken with the baby crocs.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

We had the chance to hold the baby crocodile. For just P50 you and your group of friends can already have a photo-op with the baby croc.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Me and my friends (Erika and Pevie) holding a baby croc. 

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

At the entrance of the Nature Park is this mini store which sells printed souvenir shirts and other souvenir items. So if you don't have the leisure of time to buy some pasalubong items, you can purchase some souvenir items here inside the park.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

NATURE PARK

Welcome to the Crocodile Farm's Nature Park!

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The Nature Park is home to a wide variety of wildlife including bear cats, wild boars, wild birds, etc.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

They also have this location map which you can use as your guide in exploring the park.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Time to explore the Mini-zoo!! 

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The Palawan Bearcat welcomed us to the mini zoo!

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The Palawan Bearcat, locally known as "Binturong" is an omnivorous animal which can grow up to 1.4 meters or 4.6 ft long. It is one of the biggest land mammals in mainland Palawan.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

This nocturnal animal is an endangered and an endemic specie as well. It is endemic to the islands of Palawan, Philippines. Palawan truly has a rich biodiversity and is very blessed with amazing natural wonders. :) THANK YOU LORD! <3

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

We also saw the bearded pig or "baboy damo" in Tagalog.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The pig looks so lonely in there. 

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Other animals which you can see in the park are the following:

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

There's a variety of birds and reptiles that you can see in here.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

A Philippine Eagle can also be found at their Nature Park.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Did you know that the Philippine Eagle is the Philippines' National animal? Its scientific name is Pithecophaga Jefferyi. Kuya Kim?? haha. Wala lang trivia lang.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Aside from the eagle, there are also other species of birds found in the park.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Mynah, Parrot, Hornbill and Pheasant Peacocks are just some of the other types of birds that you can see here in the Nature Park.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

There used to be two ostriches there, i don't know why they're no longer in there anymore.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

After exploring the Nature Park, you can go to the exit and in there you can have a mini shopping spree or take some snacks.

Today, there's already a strip of souvenir shops at the exit of the Nature Park. They sell different types of souvenir items ranging from native handicrafts to stuffed toy crocs etc.

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Crocodile Farm & Nature Park--- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

That was the end of our tour at the Crocodile Farm. We're now off to our next destination, Mitra Road for Baker's Hill. :)

Total Expense for 1st Stop:
Entrance Fee P40
Fare: P25 (from town proper to Irawan---Crocodile Farm)
Photo opps with baby croc: P50 (Group picture and solo---group of 3)

Total Expenses--------P115

Go and plan your DIY Puerto Princesa City Tour na din! Less expenses na, you can enjoy a more authentic travel experience pa. :)

(Credits to my friend, Erika Fresnillo for some of the photos used in this post.)

ADIOS!


-The Palawenya Explorer ;)