Lacoste to support efforts to save endangered Phl crocs

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines  – Lacoste International, with its iconic crocodile logo, has expressed its commitment to support efforts to save the endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis), some of which are being raised in a forest-farm in San Mariano, Isabela.

Michael Lacoste, president and CEO of Lacoste International, said he is interested in funding barangay initiatives to institute the conservation of the crocodile species.

The French apparel firm also gave an undisclosed grant to the Dutch-Filipino conservation society, the Mabuaya Foundation.

Lacoste visited Isabela province to personally monitor the conservation efforts undertaken by the foundation in cooperation with the Isabela State University.

The numbers of the rare freshwater crocodile, which grows up to a meter long, have been dwindling since 2008 due to illegal fishing practices and hunting. The foundation has monitored only 250 crocodiles in 2011.

Following the onslaught of super typhoon “Juan” in 2010, the perimeter fence of the foundation’s crocodile farm in Divilacan, Isabela was destroyed, letting loose over 80 captive Philippine crocodiles in the forest of the Sierra Madre mountain.