Conserving Siamese crocodiles in Cambodia

Project goals

In the short term, we are looking to increase the size of the wild crocodile population in Cambodia by at least 150 individuals by 2025. This will be achieved mainly in the Cardamom Mountains landscape, where we believe the species has the best prospects of lasting protection and recovery, but additional areas are being explored.

In the long term, we aim to establish a viable wild population of at least 10,000 crocodiles across multiple securely protected areas in Cambodia. To do this, we need to survey and select additional sites, engage local communities and the government to protect those sites and reintroduce and/or reinforce crocodile populations at the new sites.

Our impact

Since 2012, Fauna & Flora has released 136 captive-bred Siamese crocodiles into the wild. Crocodile populations protected under the project are stable or increasing, reversing the trend for most threatened wildlife in Cambodia.

Partners

This project is delivered in partnership with the Forestry Administration, Fisheries Administration, Ministry of Environment, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and Chester Zoo.

Donors

We are grateful for financial support from the Lucille Foundation, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, People’s Trust for Endangered Species, Prince Bernhard Fund for Nature, and Czech Association for Breeding and Conservation of Crocodilians.