Cambodia: 106 rare crocodile eggs found, the biggest discovery of its kind in 20 years

Cambodia: 106 rare crocodile eggs found, the biggest discovery of its kind in 20 years

Phnom Penh, Cambodia — Conservationists of Cambodia 106 eggs of the rare Siamese crocodile species were found in a wildlife refuge in that countryauthorities said Thursday, calling it the biggest discovery in 20 years and giving new hope for the rare crocodile species’ survival in the wild.

The group discovered the eggs in May, in the Cardamom National Park. Between June 27 and 30, a total of 1,000 eggs were successfully incubated. 60 eggsaccording to a joint statement from the ministries of agriculture and environment, together with the conservation group Fauna & Flora.

“This discovery indicates that the area is a key habitat for wild crocodiles, giving hope for the recovery of the species.“, the statement reads.

The area and the young reptiles have been under the protection of forest guards from the Cardamom National Park Wildlife Sanctuary, the statement added.

The crocodile species was once abundant in Southeast Asia, but today, The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers it critically endangered.It almost disappeared in the 1990s due to a combination of poaching, habitat destruction and interbreeding with other crocodile species.

Cambodian Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth said his ministry works on conservation and Restoration of Siamese crocodile habitatwhich are in danger of extinction.

“Siamese crocodiles play an important role in the ecosystem, and the discovery of the five nests and the successful incubation of 60 eggs reflects that Cardamom National Park is a safe and suitable habitat for this species,” Sophalleth said in Thursday’s statement.

There are believed to be about 1,000 Siamese crocodiles left in the wild, more than 300 of them in Cambodia..

In 2017, wildlife researchers found six eggs in the Sre Ambel district of the southern province of Koh Kong while exploring for tracks and signs of the reptileThen, in September 2021, conservationists found several newborn calves in a river in the Srepok wildlife sanctuary in eastern Cambodia, raising hopes for their survival in the wild.