Edward O. Wilson (2002) used a powerful metaphor to describe the current status of the Philippine crocodile when he argued that Crocodylus mindorensis was only one hundred heartbeats away from extinction.

After one year of project implementation CROC proposes a follow-up project to address this global conservation priority at the local level. This follow-up proposal addresses the issues that were identified during the first phase of the CROC project. As conservation priorities have shifted, CROC addresses new objectives to protect C. mindorensis in the wild.

The overall goal of the CROC project is: to conserve and rehabilitate remaining Philippine crocodile populations in the wild in Northeast Luzon.

The objectives are:

(1) Providing accurate data on C. mindorensis distribution, population size, population structure, and habitat requirements and life history parameters as an input to the design of conservation measures

(2) Providing accurate data on threats, people-crocodile interactions, perception of crocodiles, requirements for acceptance of co-habitation with crocodiles and possible benefits of crocodile conservation for local communities as an input to the design of conservation measures

(3) Enhancing knowledge on crocodiles, awareness of the need of conservation of crocodiles and their wetland habitats, and to increase local involvement in Philippine crocodile conservation

(4) Establishing crocodile reserves and/or other crocodile protection measures with full consent of local communities and local governments

(5) Enhancing co-operation between and capacities of local stakeholders in Philippine crocodile conservation with the aim of establishing a long-term sustainable effort to conserve and rehabilitate this critically endangered species