‘Hope’ as 60 rare Siamese crocodiles hatch in Cambodia
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PHNOM PENH - A group of 60 rare Siamese crocodiles has hatched in Cambodia, boosting hopes for one of the world’s most endangered reptiles, conservationists said on July 18.
Five Siamese crocodile nests were discovered in Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park in mid-May, the country’s environment and agriculture ministry said in a joint statement with conservation group Fauna and Flora.
The nests contained 106 eggs, of which 66 were fertilised, and a total of 60 Siamese crocodile eggs successfully hatched between June 27 and 30, the ministry said.
“This discovery indicates that the area is a key habitat for natural crocodiles, providing hope for the species’ recovery,” the statement added.
Researchers say there are approximately 1,000 Siamese crocodiles worldwide, including around 300 in the wild in Cambodia.
Their survival is threatened by poachers, who supply eggs and adult reptiles to crocodile farms around the region, where their skins are turned into luxury belts, shoes and handbags.
Cambodian Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth said it was a source of “pride” that the country is home to some of the world’s rarest species, and pledged continued efforts to “preserve biodiversity”.
Deforestation and poaching have devastated many species in Cambodia, one of Asia’s poorest and most corrupt nations.
In its haste to develop, the government has been criticised for allowing companies to clear hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest land – including in protected zones – for everything from rubber and sugar cane plantations to hydropower dams.
Newly hatched baby Siamese crocodiles in Cardamom National Park, Koh Kong province.
PHOTO: AFP
The successful mass hatching shows the vital importance of protecting Cardamom National Park, said Mr Pablo Sinovas, country director of Fauna and Flora Cambodia programme.
“With only a few hundred individuals estimated in the wild, the hatching of 60 new crocodiles is a tremendous boost,” he added.
According to conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature, the Mekong River basin and wetlands in Cambodia appear to hold the only remaining wild populations of Siamese crocodiles, which grow up to 3m in length.
They are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. AFP
