| Conservationists have taken a massive stride toward saving the world’s most endangered crocodile from extinction. |
In a major reintroduction last week, they released 50 captive-bred Philippine crocodiles into the wild. |
Prior to the release, hunting, habitat loss and overfishing had reduced the number of wild Philippine crocodiles to fewer than 100 mature animals. |
The newly-released crocodiles should be ready to breed in just a few years, the conservationists hope. |
Despite being a relatively small crocodile species that poses no threat to humans unless provoked, the Philippines crocodile has been pushed to the brink of extinction. |
After World War II, crocodile populations in the Philippines became severely depleted by commercial hunters taking the animals for leather. |
| Across the densely populated country, marshes, swamps and creeks were converted to rice fields, removing the crocodile’s natural habitat. |
| Overfishing, fishing with dynamite |
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Rarest Crocodile Returned to Wild
