Student Reports

Interdisciplinary Studies for Crocodile Conservation Across Africa Matthew H. Shirley Since 2005 I have been developing an interdisciplinary program for crocodile conservation in Africa including re- evaluation of the systematics of these species, surveys and capacity building to assess conservation needs, and implementing sustainable utilization where appropriate. The past year was marked by exciting advancements with fieldwork in Senegal, Gambia, Egypt, and Uganda. In the fall of 2008, while studying French in Senegal, I had the opportunity to work with the wildlife conservation agencies of Senegal and Gambia to determine if dwarf (Osteolaemus tetraspis) and slender-snouted (Mecistops cataphractus) crocodiles were locally extinct. Neither species had been seen for 20 – 40 years, but I was inspired by that they warrant recognition as an of this species split are profound our quick rediscovery of dwarf crocodiles Evolutionarily Significant Unit within because Nile crocodile populations in both countries. Even better news is the West African (as yet unnamed) throughout East and southern Africa that we rediscovered slender-snouted species. For the Nile crocodile, my are large, with harvest as the ideal crocodiles in River Gambia National results provide strong evidence that management strategy, while C. suchus Park, though this western population there are two species with highly automatically qualifies as Threatened or divergent evolutionary histories. Based Endangered. is precarious with as few as 12 – 20 on this we have proposed that the taxon The coming year promises to individuals. Crocodylus suchus (Geoffrey 1807) be just as exciting with continued Starting in June 2008, I initiated a project with should be resurrected. This species fieldwork in Egypt and Uganda, and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency to was described from mummies of the new programs starting up focused on evaluate the burgeoning Nile crocodile population in historic Crocodilopolis of ancient the ecology and conservation of the Lake Nasser as a harvestable wildlife resource. Over Egypt, and our ancient DNA analyses slender-snouted crocodile in Gabon the course of the year we established a population confirm that these mummies are and Republic of Congo. size estimate and built strong relationships with actually a different species than existed the Lake Nasser communities. As a culmination to in the Nile River, and are aligned with Matthew H. Shirley is a doctoral student in this exciting first year, my colleagues and I passed Wildlife Ecology & Conservation. He has received our C. suchus. This is exciting as it funding for his research from USAID – Egypt a proposal to initiate a government- sponsored suggests the Pharaonic Egyptians were Junior Scientist Visits Grant, the Conservation crocodile management unit, which is now continuing cognizant of two different species and Leadership Programme, Conservation management related research, and has drafted a Leadership Programme Mentoring Award, preferentially bred one in the temples Rotary International Cultural Ambassadorial proposal to the 15th CITES CoP for approval of of Sobek. Samples collected in Uganda Scholarship, The Minnesota Zoo – Ulysses S. Grant utilization and international trade. from a population of pygmy crocodiles Conservation Award, and Idea Wild Foundation Equipment Grant. In the lab I have been working on finalizing in the Kidepo Valley provide additional extensive investigations into the evolutionary support that C. suchus was once more history of African crocodiles. The dwarf crocodile widely distributed than its modern, was recently split into three unique species, and our predominantly West African range analysis of samples collected in Senegambia suggest suggests. The conservation implications

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