Siamese crocodile hatchlings in Stung Treng province’s Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary. Rising Phoenix
Rising Phoenix’s team at the Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary is delighted to report that 14 Siamese crocodiles have successfully hatched at the reserve in Stung Treng province, according to USAID Morodok Baitang.
“This marks a significant milestone since 22 critically endangered Siamese crocodiles were reintroduced into [the sanctuary] in May of last year.
“The hatchlings emerged from one of the five nests recorded this year, though unfortunately, the other four nests failed,” the organisation shared in an August 21 social media post.
According to the post, the Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is a freshwater species native to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. It said the medium-sized reptile was listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in 2012 and has already vanished from many of its former habitats.
In Cambodia, it was believed to be extinct in the wild until it was rediscovered in the Cardamom Mountains in 2000, the post added.
Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to these crocodiles, but habitat loss and unsustainable fishing practices have led to a drastic decline in their population, it said, noting that previous research indicated no evidence of the species' continued presence in the area.
The post explained that to help prevent their extinction, USAID Morodok Baitang, in partnership with Rising Phoenix, participated in a reintroduction programme last year, releasing Siamese crocodiles into the conservation zone of the sanctuary.
“The reintroduction event, organised in collaboration with the provincial Department of Environment, the forest administration, local authorities, communities, monks, teachers and students, also served as a platform to raise awareness about the vital role of Siamese crocodiles in the ecosystem and the importance of biodiversity conservation.
“All released crocodiles were genetically tested prior to release to ensure they were pure Siamese. Unlike some other species, purebred Siamese crocodiles are not known to be aggressive towards humans,” it said.
