Hatchlings Bring Hope for Siamese Crocodile Population

Thought Question: Why do you think it's important for people to take action to protect animals and their habitats?

Siamese crocodiles are the most critically endangered crocs on the planet. Experts predict only 1,000 of the reptiles are likely left in the wild. So rare are the creatures that a 2017 finding of six eggs, and a second in 2021 of eight hatchlings, were hailed as massive wins in the effort to save the species. A new find of 106 eggs and 60 hatchlings in Cambodia has scientists thrilled the world over.   

“There’s a biodiversity crisis around the world, but in the tropics of Southeast Asia it’s …. acute,” Pablo Sinovas told The New York Times. He's the director of conservation group Fauna and Flora. “The fact that we’ve been able to help these crocodiles recover and see this landmark breeding event, it’s very (crucial).”

Siamese crocs are smaller than their saltwater or Nile River kin. But they can still reach lengths of nearly 10 feet and weigh up to 265 pounds. Once, there were large numbers of them throughout Southeast Asia. But the crocs’ population has plunged. It's the result of habitat loss and poaching. This summer’s discovery offers hope that the trend may yet be reversed.  

The baby crocs were found in six nests in Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park. Efforts by groups like Fauna and Flora have placed Siamese crocs into wildlife sanctuaries. But Cardamom was not a defined safe zone. That means the region is part of the carnivore's natural habitat.   

This new finding of wild nests spotlights how crucial it is to keep Cardamom safe, Sinovas told Phys.org. He stressed that wetlands are threatened across the region. He said the baby crocs highlight the chance for natural recovery through conservation. 

Photo of a Siamese crocodile from Wikimedia Commons courtesy of Rlevse.