This establishment was known before as the Crocodile Farming Institute but was officially renamed last June 19, 2000 to Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC).

Why PWRCC? The Center actually started out to mainly conserve the two endangered species of crocodile in the Philippines and to develop a suitable crocodile farming technology; as Palawan’s 90 % of all rivers was considered viable saltwater crocodile habitat. The center also wanted to be able to provide supplemental livelihood to local communities thru crocodile farming. But in time, the Center was able to accomplish and be successful with crocodile captivity and productivity that they were able to venture to rehabilitate, conserve and study the rare, endemic and endangered wildlife species of Palawan. Thus the reason for the re-naming of the Center to what we know at this time.

Did you know that …

• Crocodilians have been around for 200 million years.
• Crocodiles do not open their mouths because they are hungry? It keeps its mouth open because it is cooling off through the evaporation of moisture inside the mouth. It is their way of regulating their body temperature and they can lie in the sun with its mouth open for hours!
• Crocodile skin is the most durable in the world.
• Crocodiles have four chambers in their hearts like humans.
• Crocodiles are powerful swimmers using only their tails.
• Aside from being an excellent swimmer, crocodilians have a diversity of movement on land. When moving unhurried on land, they may proceed with a stately high walk. But if frightened, they will plunge down in a belly crawl!
• Crocodiles are carnivores, and they usually feed at night.
• As temperature decreases, so does feed intake of crocodiles.
• Crocodiles have an average of 66 teeth! And they can replace lost or worn-out teeth by growing new ones and could have as many as 3,000 teeth in its lifetime!
• Crocodiles can hardly chew, can only break, crush and swallow.
• Crocodilians do not breathe underwater? This is because they do not have gills like fish. They have lungs instead. However, by controlling their metabolism, hatchlings and juveniles can stay underwater for 45 minutes while adults for close to two hours!
• Crocs uses only two weapons – their heads and jaws, their tails are not weapons contrary to belief.

Other species that can be found in the Center aside from the crocodile are Nicobar Pigeon, Palawan Peacock Pheasant, Blue Naped Parrot, Philippine Macaque, Palawan Porcupine, Palawan Bearcat, Palawan Talking Mynah, Palawan Hornbill, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Red-Vented Cockatoo, Serpent Eagle, Palm Civet Cat, and the Seloputo Owl.

HOW TO GET THERE
It is about 30-40 minutes (12 kilometers) away  from the heart of Puerto Princesa City (Palawan), which is situated at Bgy. Irawan. Tricycles are available in the city proper on hire basis, jeepneys for hire or passenger basis are available from 6:00am to 7:00pm daily.