Conservationists in Cambodia have made a significant discovery in the realm of wildlife preservation. A total of 106 eggs belonging to the rare Siamese crocodile species were found in the Cardamom National Park, marking the most substantial find in the past two decades. This discovery has sparked new hope for the survival of the world's rarest crocodile species in its natural habitat.
The eggs were unearthed in May, and a successful hatching process took place between June 27 and 30, resulting in 60 healthy hatchlings. The joint efforts of the ministries of agriculture and environment, in collaboration with the conservation group Fauna & Flora, have been instrumental in safeguarding the area and the young reptiles under the protection of the Cardamom National Park Wildlife Sanctuary rangers.
The Siamese crocodile species, once prevalent across Southeast Asia, is now critically endangered according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The species faced a severe decline in the 1990s due to poaching, habitat destruction, and interbreeding with other crocodile species.
The Cambodian environment minister emphasized the importance of conservation and habitat restoration for these critically endangered crocodiles. With only an estimated 1,000 Siamese crocodiles remaining in the wild, of which over 300 are in Cambodia, the discovery of the 106 eggs signifies a crucial step towards the species' recovery.
Previous discoveries in 2017 and 2021 also provided glimpses of hope for the Siamese crocodile's survival in the wild. Six eggs were found in the Sre Ambel district in 2017, while eight hatchlings were discovered in the Srepok wildlife sanctuary in 2021. These findings underscore the significance of protected habitats like the Cardamom National Park in ensuring the species' continued existence.
