Hopes have been renewed for the future of a species critically endangered crocodile after 60 eggs hatched in the wild — the largest recorded breeding event for the species this century.
Siamese crocodiles successfully hatched in five different nests in Cambodia’s Cardamom National Park, according to a statement from the nature conservation organization Fauna & Flora last Thursday (18).
This is a freshwater species that can grow up to 4 meters in length. They have a prominent bony crest on the back of their head and were formerly present across much of mainland Southeast Asia.
However, large-scale hunting and agriculture that has impacted its wetland habitat has brought the species to the brink of extinction.
The species is now categorized as critically endangered and is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Previous estimates placed its wild population at about 400 individuals, according to the release.
Siamese crocodiles were rediscovered in the wild in 2000, and since then Fauna & Flora has been working with Cambodian government officials and other local partners on a conservation-oriented captive breeding program.
As part of these efforts, Siamese crocodiles are bred in captivity and then released into the wild, with 196 crocodiles successfully released since 2012.
In May 2024, local residents found three nests in an area where captive-bred crocodiles had not been released, and two more nests were found in a different area soon after. This suggests that long-term protection efforts are helping populations start to increase again, Fauna & Flora said.
At the end of June, 60 baby crocodiles emerged from their nests, which the charity said was “an incredible result for conservationists and a true sign of hope for the future of this species.”
Pablo Sinovas, national director of the Fauna & Flora program in Cambodia, said the organization and its partners have been “steadfast” in their commitment to increasing populations. “This involves not only breeding them in captivity, but also ensuring they have a suitable habitat for release,” he said in the statement.
“Strengthening the protection of key sites within Cardamom National Park is crucial, protecting these habitats from threats such as deforestation and poaching.”
Sinovas added that the discovery of wild nests highlights the importance of protecting this area. “With only a few hundred individuals estimated to be left in the wild, the birth of 60 new crocodiles is a huge boost,” he said.
He adds: “At a time when wetland biodiversity is rapidly declining across the region, this highlights the potential for natural recovery through ongoing collaborative conservation efforts.”
Toy Chorn, a community ranger who participated in the discovery and protection of the nests, has high hopes for the species. “This discovery indicates that our investments in conservation have paid off, and I believe that with our continued conservation efforts, the Siamese crocodile population will continue to increase in the future,” he said.
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