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June 1, 2005

The Crocodile Comeback?

Its a bittersweet story when a near-extinct creature makes a tiny comeback in the eyes of the people. A couple of baby Siamese crocodiles have been discovered, implying that the animals are not completely extinct in the region, and are breeding successfully. It's great news that the species isn't as bad off as it was originally thought, but I worry that it also makes it more difficult to argue a species belongs on the Endangered and Threatened Species listings in the first place, for some. Then again, the positive PR of having a creature comeback may make it easier to push the listings in general as a vehicle to help species recovery. I guess that make's me a jaded cynic? *sigh* Regardless, this is good news!

The freshwater Siamese Crocodile is considered critically endangered with a population of less than 5,000 worldwide. The major threats to these relatively harmless crocs are habitat destruction due to farming and deforestation, hunting (meat and leather), and pollution of their habitat. It's interesting to note that while the wild population is critically endangered, the farming and breeding of these crocs is relatively well-understood.

BANGKOK, Thailand - A nest of baby Siamese crocodiles has been found in southern Laos, raising hopes that the nearly extinct species may yet survive, conservationists said Friday.

Lao and international wildlife specialists found seven hatchlings and an old crocodile nest in a small swamp in the southern Lao province of Savannakhet.

More at: Endangered Crocodiles Discovered in Laos

Posted by sorsha at June 1, 2005 1:25 PM