There are still Philippine Crocodiles present in the Ligawasan Marsh.

This was proven once again by Mamangkas Mangatong, a known local crocodile hunter, when he caught one crocodile on April 13, 2016, in the vicinity of the marsh, along Barangay Cuyapon in Kabacan, Cotabato.

While many believe that crocodiles could no longer be found in the marsh due to their habitat destruction, the 8-footcrocodile Mangatong caught offers hope that they are still there to contribute in the biodiversity of the marsh.

Mangatong is a Maguindanaon Muslim who lives in Sitio Lower Silangan, Barangay Cuyapon, in Kabacan, Cotabato. He is a native inhabitant in the area who used to catch crocodiles aside from doing farming and fishing. The most recent crocodile he caught got entangled with the bamboo-and-nylon-made fish traps of local farmers.

Mangatong reported the incident to the village officials who, in turn, coordinated and reported the caught crocodile to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resource Office (MENRO) of Kabacan Municipality. Kabacan MENRO Gerardo Laoagan then coordinated with Dr. Cayetano Pomares, the government’s designated Philippine Crocodile Conservationist, based at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM).

During the turnover, Dr. Pomares informed the community residents that the crocodile must have been forced to move due to the drought brought by the El Niño Phenomenon. Some parts of the marsh got burned and threatened the existence of the different fauna, including the crocodiles. He cautioned the people and told them to be vigilant because the animals (and the crocodiles)were moving looking for foods..