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Status of the Siamese crocodile in Vietnam

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Steven G. Platt  and
Ngo Van Tri
Steven G. Platt
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology, Resources, and Environmental Studies, 85 Tran Quoc Toan St., District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Current address: Fauna & Flora International, Tan Phu Project Office, 173 Gia Canh Intersection, Hiep Quyet Ward, Dan Quan District, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam.
Ngo Van Tri
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology, Resources, and Environmental Studies, 85 Tran Quoc Toan St., District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Current address: Fauna & Flora International, Tan Phu Project Office, 173 Gia Canh Intersection, Hiep Quyet Ward, Dan Quan District, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam.
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Abstract

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The Siamese crocodile Crocodylus siamensis, now regarded as one of the world's most endangered crocodilians, was formerly common in the wetlands of southern Vietnam. Populations are thought to have declined in recent years, although quantitative status assessments are unavailable. We surveyed five areas previously believed to harbour the only remaining Siamese crocodile populations in Vietnam, and our results strongly suggest that viable populations are no longer extant. Crocodiles were not observed during spotlight counts of Crocodile Swamp (Nam Cat Tien National Park) or Lac Lake. Crocodiles do not occur in Upper or Lower Krong Pach Reservoirs, and these degraded sites no longer constitute suitable habitat. Remnant populations may exist in the Sere Pok River and Tay Son Lake, but these crocodiles remain subject to persecution. Population declines are attributed to a combination of hunting, habitat destruction, incidental capture in fishing nets and collecting for crocodile farms. Reintroduction to Nam Cat Tien National Park is recommended.

Keywords

Conservationendangered speciespopulation surveySiamese crocodileVietnam
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 34 , Issue 3 , July 2000 , pp. 217 - 221
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 2000

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