Determining Habitat Suitability for the Identification of Priority Conservation Sites for Indo-Pacific crocodile (Crocodylus porosus Schneider, 1801) in the Philippines

Abstract

This study examined the suitability of habitat occupied by the Indo-Pacific crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Philippines using data on the presence of populations from 2011–2020, geospatial technologies, and species distribution models (SDM). Habitat suitability was mapped using an ensemble model based on Biomod2 package in R software. Results showed that slope, temperature, and precipitation were strong predictors of suitable habitat for Indo-Pacific crocodiles. Thirty-five percent (35%) of the total habitats (1,137,351 ha) that were considered suitable for C. porosus in the Philippines are currently protected under national legislation. The provinces of Palawan, Agusan Del Sur, Surigao, Ligawasan Marsh, and Sulu Archipelago contain the largest areas of suitable habitats and should be considered a priority for conservation and protection.