New Delhi: The Siamese crocodile, a critically endangered species, saved itself from imminent extinction after 60 eggs of the Southeast Asian reptile hatched in Cambodia last month. Conservationists called it a hatching record for the endangered species, with this batch being the largest population born this century after more than 20 years of conservation efforts. Recorded as virtually extinct in the wild in 1992, efforts had been ongoing to revive the species in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains. A minuscule number of crocodiles were rediscovered in 2000 in the mountains. The crocodiles had survived thanks to the Indigenous Chorng peoples of Cambodia, who had been protecting them for ages because their culture considered the species sacred.
Locals discovered five nests in May 2024, which hatched in late June. Hailed as Cambodia’s most successful conservation story, the eggs’ hatching is a real sign of hope.
Conservation efforts
According to a BBC report, Pablo Sinovas, the director of Fauna and Flora, a Cambodian conservation group, called it a “tremendous boost” that was incredibly encouraging for “collaborative conservation efforts”, which had included efforts from conservationists, local NGOs, and the Cambodian government.
Fauna and Flora have partnered with local initiatives and the government to protect the species, breeding them in captivity and releasing them in the Cardamom Mountains.
Local volunteers frequently patrol the mountains, watching for the crocodiles and any erratic behaviours. Since 2012, the group has reintroduced 196 Siamese crocodiles into the wild.
When the eggs were discovered in May, Fauna and Flora ensured that they remained undisturbed in their natural habitat until they hatched—a moment of great jubilation.
How did the crocodiles almost die out?
Once rampant throughout Southeast Asia, these crocodiles began to be hunted extensively for their hides, which became popular in the fashion industry. They were chronically hunted and illegally captured for commercial crocodile farms.
Habitat destruction and degradation have also contributed to crocodiles’ critical status. Dam construction, pesticide and chemical use, land clearing for agriculture, and wars in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia have contributed to the near extinction of this species. Crocodiles were believed to have been eradicated from the wild by the 1990s.
Facts about the rare crocodile
How many Siamese crocodiles remain?
While the total number of wild Siamese crocodiles remains unknown, it is estimated that there are 400 individuals in Cambodia. The “million Siamese crocodiles in captivity” are actually mongrels and cross-bred hybrids with modified behaviours.
Physical appearance
A thickset, broad-snouted reptile reaching a length of 3.5 metres, the Siamese crocodile is olive-coloured mainly, although some may be dark green. With the heaviest recorded crocodile, weighing almost 350 kgs, this species can be identified by the bony crests behind its eyes and post-occipital scales on its neck, which helps distinguish it from saltwater crocodiles.
Where are these crocodiles found?
Siamese crocodiles live in various freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam. They frequently inhabit cool streams, lakes, swamps, marshes, and slow-flowing rivers.
What are their dietary preferences?
Siamese crocodiles are reported to prey on various animals, including fish, snakes, amphibians, and even small mammals like rats or medium-sized ones like wild boars.
Behaviour
Little is known about the behavioural and reproductive habits of Siamese crocodiles. They are believed to be nocturnal species that hunt primarily in the dark and spend the day sunbathing on the banks of water bodies.
Female crocodiles build elaborate nests from mud and fallen plants, coming to the same nest every breeding season. Their nesting season is usually from March to April. While some crocodile parents exhibit defensive behaviours towards their eggs, others have been reported to flee at the first sight of danger.
These crocodiles are shy and unaggressive, attacking mainly when threatened. There have been only five confirmed attacks, only one of which was fatal.
How can we help save the rarest crocodile on the planet?
Captive breeding is expected to impact the dwindling Siamese crocodile populations significantly. With 50 juveniles introduced into the wilderness of the Cardamom Mountains this year, local conservation groups will wait for a decade until the crocodiles reach sexual maturity to gauge an idea of the survival and expansion of the species. Pure captive-bred Siamese crocodiles, if reintroduced in appropriate numbers into the wild, can soon help regulate their population in their native Southeast Asia.
Last month, there was a glimmer of hope for Cambodia’s critically endangered Siamese crocodile. Sixty eggs of this Southeast Asian reptile hatched, offering the species a chance to evade imminent extinction. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
