Wildlife corridors through oil palm plantations. Local communities saving the world’s rarest crocodile from extinction. Sweeping new protections for EU seabed. A groundbreaking coalition for amphibian conservation. When conservation organisations have access to flexible, reliable funding, their impact can be revolutionary.
In this series, we look back at major victories facilitated by our long-term, trust-based funding strategy. Beyond the value of multi-year support, these stories prove that opinions can be changed, and communities can be won to the side of preserving species they have feared when they are engaged in the conservation conversation.
Back in May 2008, a community meeting was held in the small village of Lumalug, in the northern mountains of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines.
Conservationists presented a proposal to create a crocodile sanctuary around the small stream running through the village (Dinang Creek), to help protect the largest reproducing wild population of the Philippine crocodile, the world’s rarest crocodile.
A farmer stepped forward and asked “Why?”
Although this species was already protected under Philippine law, as a Critically Endangered species that could only be found in the Philippines, this was not common knowledge. In fact, it was still common for crocodile killings to take place. These killings mostly occur out of fear, and a belief that crocodiles are eating the fish that many people rely on for food and income.
Mabuwaya Foundation has been engaging the local communities at all levels with a range of different types outreach to instil local pride in the Philippine crocodile. Image: Mabuwaya Foundation
“The Philippine crocodile; something to be proud of!”
15 years later, it is quite a different story. The Mabuwaya Foundation, a name which means ‘long live the crocodile’, has been working in Isabela Province for 20 years to improve the public image of the crocodile, educate people about its protection, and stop the killings.
Public campaigns have focused on fostering local pride in the large reptile and, as a species particular to the region, its potential to represent the people of Isabela and their home. The idea of pride and protection was disseminated in many forms, from posters and comic books, to newsletters, puppet and theatre shows, school visits, and community consultations, aiming to reach people of all ages.
These conversations have drawn on another side to the historic relationship between the crocodiles and local people. In a survey of public opinion in 2004, researchers found contradictions between perceptions: although some people spoke about fear of crocodiles and superstitions about spirits transforming into vengeful crocodiles, and an oft-repeated joke about crocodiles in Congress (‘buwaya’, Filipino for crocodile, is often used to describe corrupt politicians), hunters spoke about respecting them, and none of the respondents expressed a fundamental objection to living with crocodiles.
In Philippine media, politicians are often depicted as crocodiles to symbolise corruption and greed. Credit: A cultural history of crocodiles in the Philippines / Philippine Star
A crocodile rescue
As Mabuwaya have worked for decades to dispel the fears of crocodiles, when a call came in in February 2023 from a community asking help to rescue a crocodile, the team was very excited.
The fact that they had called Mabuwaya rather than killing the crocodile, found trapped in a septic tank, is a big step forward, especially as this is a community 20km away that Mabuwaya does not even work with directly.