Nearly extinct crocodiles found in Cambodia

Cambodia welcomed 60 crocodile chicks in a hatching process that experts described as a record number for this endangered strain.

After more than 20 years of effort, they said that she was a “real light of hope” to bring these reptiles back to the remote mountains of Cardamum.

Green freshwater crocodiles have a prominent bone in the back of the head, and can be as long as 3 meters.

According to the experts on Tuesday, in May, five nests were found by local residents, and the chicks were released in late June.

In the past, Siamese crocodiles have been widespread in most regions of Southeast Asia.
There are only 400 of them left in the world today, mostly in Cambodia, and experts believe that decades of fishing and the destruction of their natural environment pose a threat to their extinction.

Pablo Senovas, an animal and plant life conservation project official in Cambodia, said: “The release of 60 crocodiles is a great incentive for us.”

He added that he was encouraged by efforts to cooperate for the preservation of animal life,” noting that non-governmental organizations and government institutions had assisted in the effort this time.

He believed that crocodiles had been extinct in Cambodia before they were found in 2000.

Senovas said that his institution had cooperated with local officials to launch the crocodile education project in detention and then to launch it in the appropriate environment in the Kardamum Mountains.

Observers from the local population regularly patrol the Cescros Mountains to ascertain the safety of the crocodiles after their launch.
Since 2012, the program has helped launch 196 Siamese crocodiles into the wild.

In May, local residents found nests in an area where no crocodiles had ever been released. This means that this strain is breeding in its natural environment.

The team of experts sent people to ensure the safety of nests in the clock schools so that all the eggs would hatch and all 60 chicks would come out into the world.