By Redempto Anda
Southern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 17:07:00 05/01/2008

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines --

A seven-year-old boy died after being attacked by a crocodile in Rizal town, Palawan, about 203 kilometers south of Puerto Princesa City Wednesday afternoon, police reported Thursday.

The victim, identified as Mostaqem M. Ibrahim, a resident of Sitio (sub-village) Sumorom, Barangay (village) Ransang, was reportedly swimming in the river with his brother Jadnor when he was attacked by the crocodile at around 1 p.m.

Jadnor told authorities he heard his brother cry for help and saw him being bitten by the animal before it disappeared into the water.

The victim's mud-soaked body was found by local residents the following morning.

Another group managed to catch a 15-foot crocodile before the boy's body was found. They cut open its stomach but found nothing.

Personnel of the Palawan Wildlife Rescue Center based in Puerto Princesa City have been dispatched to track down the crocodile responsible for the boy's death.

In November 2006, the head of a 9-year-old girl believed to have been eaten by a crocodile was recovered in a river in the same town.

The victim, Joanna Crisostomo, resident of Barangay Panalingaan, was crossing a shallow river with her 11-year-old brother after watching television at a neighbor's house when she was attacked.

In the past, a child was also reported killed by a crocodile in the Bacungan River in Puerto Princesa City.

original link newsinfo.inquirer.net

Reptileman´s comment:

as the general secretary of the Philippine Crocodile Society, i was informed about this accident trough Sonny Dizon, President PCS 3 day´s ago. this particular town has been in the news several years and unfortunately become famous because of his croc attacks. the PCS is looking for funds to educate the locals in Palawan on how to live together in peace with wildlife and in have a research at the scene done, in order to find solutions on how to deal with this situation there and in what has to be done to assure, it will be safe their in the future for the inhabitants of the town and the crocodiles.

for more infos on how you could help, please contact me.


thanks


Cheers
Mario

very sad story, Mario - and sad for the crocs, too, because this accident will effect conservation efforts in the region

Best
Ralf

it always does Ralf, before and now....
we will try to go to the side next week to check what can be done.. i suggested this 2006, after the last accident, happen on the same river already, but the government does not understand the problem at this time. lets see, how it is right now... the locals at the place are scared, especially the woman who need to do their laundry at the river... anyway - we need to have a actionplan - see where the problem is - and see how we can educate the public to live with the crocodiles together, without getting eaten all the time... there has to be a way, for both - humans and crocs...




cheers
Mario