Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T14:16:46.938Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

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

References

Bayliss, P. (1987) Survey methods and monitoring within crocodile management programmes. In Wildlife Management: Crocodiles and Alligators (eds Webb, G. J. W., Manolis, S. C. and Whitehead, P. J.), pp. 157–175. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty. Ltd., Sydney.Google Scholar
Cao, V.S. (1998) The system of protected areas in Vietnam. In Environment and Bioresources of Vietnam: Present Situation and Solutions (ed. Cao, V. S.), pp. 57–128. Gioi Publishers, Hanoi.Google Scholar
Cao, V.S. & Jenkins, R.W.G. (1998) Crocodile conservation and development in Vietnam. In Crocodiles: Proceedings of he 14th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, pp. 135–140. IUCN Publications, Gland.Google Scholar
Cue, H.T. (1994) Status and conservation of crocodiles in Vietnam. In Crocodiles: Proceedings of the 12th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, pp. 28–34. IUCN Publications, Gland.Google Scholar
Hammond, A. (1993) Environmental Almanac. Compiled by World Resources Institute. Houghton Mifflin Co., New York.Google Scholar
Kreetiyuntanont, K. (1993) Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)in Khao Ang Ru Nai Wildlife Sanctuary. Natural History Bulletin of Siam Society, 41, 135–137.Google Scholar
Nao, T. (1998) Current status of crocodile in Cambodia in captivity and in the wild. In Crocodiles: Proceedings of the 14th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, pp. 141–154. IUCN Publications, Gland.Google Scholar
Platt, S.G. (1999) Investigation into the status of crocodiles and turtles in Vietnam and Cambodia. Unpublished Report, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York.Google Scholar
Platt, S.G. & Thorbjarnarson, J.B. (1997) Status and life history of the American crocodile in Belize. Unpublished Report, United Nations Development Programme—Global Environmental Facility. Belize Coastal Zone Management Project BZE/92/G31.Google Scholar
Ratanakorn, P., Amget, B. & Otley, B. (1994) Preliminary surveys of crocodiles in Thailand. In Crocodiles: Proceedings of the 12th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, pp. 35–49. IUCN Publications, Gland.Google Scholar
Ross, J.P. (1998) Crocodiles: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN, Gland.Google Scholar
Sang, N.V. & Cue, H.T. (1996) Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Vietnam. Government Printers, Hanoi [in Vietnamese].Google Scholar
Sawathvong, S. (1994) The status of crocodiles of the Lao PDR. In Crocodiles: Proceedings of the 12th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group, pp. 16–23. IUCN Publications, Gland.Google Scholar
Suvanakorn, P. & Youngprapakorn, C. (1987) Crocodile farming in Thailand. In Wildlife Management: Crocodiles and Alligators (eds Webb, G. J. W., Manolis, S. C. and Whitehead, P. J.), pp. 341–343. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty. Ltd., Sydney.Google Scholar
Thorbjarnarson, J. (1992) Crocodiles: An Action Plan for their Conservation. IUCN Publications, Gland.Google Scholar