KOH KONG, Cambodia — The recent discovery of 60 Siamese crocodile hatchlings in the southwest of Cambodia has sparked hope among conservationists, with the five successful nests highlighting the resilience of the critically endangered species in the wild. Deep within the remote Cardamom Mountains, 60 eggs were found to have successfully hatched — a discovery that Pablo Sinovas, Fauna & Flora Cambodia’s country director, called “the largest number of wild Siamese crocodile hatchlings recorded in Cambodia this century.” Cambodia’s wild population of Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) was previously estimated at around 400, with the mortality rate among most crocodile species’ young at roughly 80%, Sinovas said. As such, 60 hatchlings in the wild is “a tremendous boost.” The recent discovery of 60 Siamese crocodile hatchlings in the southwest of Cambodia has sparked hope among conservationists. Image by Bros Pov/Fauna & Flora. According to Sinovas, the discovery “is a very promising sign” that Fauna & Flora’s conservation efforts in the Cardamoms have been successful. The NGO has released 196 Siamese crocodiles in Koh Kong province through its reintroduction program since 2012. The discovery has given conservationists cause for optimism after the species’ population declined dramatically due to years of habitat loss and poaching — largely for the production of crocodile skin goods — that saw Siamese crocodiles disappear from 99% of their natural range. “Poaching is no longer a major threat to the species,” Sinovas said in an email to Mongabay. “The global market demand for Siamese crocodile skins has all…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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