PHNOM PENH, Cambodia. Conservationists have discovered 106 eggs of the critically endangered Siamese crocodile in a wildlife sanctuary in western Cambodia, marking the largest find of its kind in two decades. This significant discovery brings renewed hope for the survival of one of the world’s rarest crocodile species.
The eggs were found in May in Cardamom National Park. Between June 27 and 30, 60 of these eggs successfully hatched, according to a joint statement issued by Cambodia’s ministries of agriculture and environment, along with the conservation group Fauna & Flora.
“This discovery indicates that the area is a key habitat for wild crocodiles, providing hope for the species’ recovery,” the statement said. Rangers now protect the newly hatched crocodiles and their habitat from Cardamom National Park Wildlife Sanctuary.
Once widespread across Southeast Asia, the Siamese crocodile is now listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The species faced near extinction by the 1990s due to poaching, habitat destruction, and crossbreeding with other crocodile species.
Cambodian Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth emphasized the importance of conservation efforts for these critically endangered reptiles. “The Siamese crocodiles play an important role in the ecosystem and the discovery of the five nests successfully hatching 60 eggs reflects that the Cardamom National Park is a safe and suitable habitat for this species,” Sophalleth stated on Thursday.
Currently, it is believed that only about 1,000 Siamese crocodiles remain in the wild, with over 300 of them residing in Cambodia. In recent years, there have been other hopeful signs for the species. In 2017, researchers discovered six eggs in the Sre Ambel district of Koh Kong province. Later, in September 2021, conservationists found eight hatchlings in the Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary in eastern Cambodia, further raising hopes for the species’ survival.
The discovery of these 106 eggs in Cardamom National Park is a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to conserve and restore the habitat of the Siamese crocodile, ensuring their continued presence in the wild.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
