One of the baby crocodiles that was placed in the wetland area. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane TImes/Asia News Network): The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Laos recently released 31 critically endangered baby Siamese crocodiles into a wetland in Savannakhet province.
Deputy Director of WCS Laos, Manoly Sisavanh, reported on the release of the crocodiles during a media workshop on wildlife crime prevention, held in Borikhamxay province.
The release was part of the Ecosystem Conservation through Integrated Landscape Management Project.
Scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society, together with Lao government partners and members of the Natay Village Conservation Team, conducted field biodiversity monitoring and collected eggs from the nest of a Siamese crocodile in the Greater Xechamphon Wetlands in Savannakhet province.
Siamese crocodiles are critically endangered, with less than 1,000 individuals in the wild. In natural populations, far less than 5 percent of eggs laid will be able to survive to adulthood.
By collecting eggs from a few nests each year and then raising hatchlings for two years until they are nearly 1 metre in length, the Xechamphon crocodile population can have a much better and faster chance of recovery.
The programme is fully supported by local communities who have long prohibited any hunting of the crocodiles due to traditional beliefs, and have never reported any issues with the shy species.
The mother crocodile was raised in captivity and released eight years ago. She built a nest and laid eggs, making this the first documented case of a “head-started” Siamese crocodile nesting in the wild in Laos and only the second time globally.
The Xechamphon Wetlands are home to Laos’ last remaining breeding populations of Siamese crocodiles.
WCS is working to secure protection against the destruction of critical habitats while also working to provide local communities with improved planning for more sustainable resource use, and alternative livelihoods that support sustainable wetlands management.
