,-*. South Pocific Regionol Environment Progromme /'.'tt-ar\r 't'\ SPREP Reports ond Studies Series no.74 \-J-J :
Status of the Estuarine Crocodile
lCrocodglis porosus Schneider 18Ol I in Vanuatu
7A:---.t__ --- .-r+ by Michael Chambers and David Esrom Copyright @ South Paeifio Regional Enviroruneut Pro.grnmne, Igg4
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Published ln Morch l?94 by: South Pqcific Regio,nel Envlro nrne n i Progrom me P.O. Box 240 Aplo, Western Somoq
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Oharn ers, M.R. The status of ttre estuarine eroesdile (Crmodylus porosu.s Sehncidet l80U irr Vanua[u / by M.R. Chanibers and D. Esronn. - Apia, WesCern Samoa I SPREP, 1s84.
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1, Croeoililes . Vanuatu I.,Esrour, D. lI. South Pacifie Regiongl Encri_roinment Prograrrume lI,I. Title IV. Serioe
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Envlronmenl Unil, Ministry of Londs, Port Vilq, Vonuotu. South Focifiie Reglo,nol Environment Progromme
The Stat'us of the Estuarine Crocoditre (Crocodylus porosus Schneide.,r 1801) in Vanuatu
M.R- Cb.ambers and D. Esronn Environment Unit, Ministrli' of Lands Por:t Vila, Vanuatrr,
Publish:ed in D-€ce,mber 1993 Apio, Western Somoo Contents
Contents iii Executive iv I 1.1 Overview qf Cnocodile Distrib,utien, Status and Biolog-y I 1,.9 C.rococlile in Vanuatu up to the Early 1980s ,...... ?.i t .) Aims and Olljectives of the Crocodile Survey ...r.....;....irir.-."..r...... 4 4 4 3. o
4. E
4.1 l\r-rival ol'Crocotlilcs in Vanua Lova.,...... D
4.2 Pro*cnt lrlurnlrers 6f Syqc6cliles in Varrua Litvfi .,,,.....,.,....i:...,.i.a,,...1i.;.,..;.i.,,r. B 4.8 Dis-tribulion of Crocorlilcc...... 6 4.4 Breeding Croeodiles., i;;r..i.;.riii....r....,..i 7 4.5 Crocodile Flallitats !.i.r,,.,...,.i..,,-...,1.,,.r.....r!...i;...i.... I 4.G Croeorlile Relatione with l\{an .....r.r...,!,r.r.. I D. Discugsion. ll s. AcIrnorvIo<[grnents,Litoratu'reCitotIand'output,S'...'.'.'.,.',....:r.r.!.r',.i'lllin llz 6-1 Acknon'lcdgomentF..,..,.i.i.....,;.,...r., l2 G.2 Literature Cited...... l2 8. 3 Outgruts...,. l2 1. Prolilcrns antl Environmental Signiificance and Implications...... , l,? 1.1 Preilrlems Enaounicred...... ",....,.. IB '1.2 Envi.ronrnental Significanee ancl Implic-abions.r.r..,r...r..,iii...... iai1;i.i,,...,.,.,.-. lil 8. Roconirnendations for Follow.rrp ancl Further Worlc,.",".... 14 8. I Wor} in Vanuatu L4
8'2overseasWork...... r.r.!i.r'ln...... i...;l....r.'i..'..'t 14 Annex 1: Crcso.dile Quostiolrn.aire..^...... l,
tu Executive Summary
This project was carried out to assess the current status of the estuarine crocodile irr Vanua Lava, the only island in Vanuatu known to have a breeding population. 'Ihe study was carried out b1' a combinalion of a site visit, coupled with intervieu's with villagers and the local distribution of a questionnaire. The findings show conclusively that there are very few crocorliles remaining on the island, perhaps only trvo or three. No young ones have been seen for several years. It thus appears that breeding has ceasc
IV -\
1. lntroduction 1.2 Crocodile in Vanuatu up to the Early 1980s
Information about crocodiles in Vanuatu can 1.1 Overview of Crocodile be found from three references: Dickinson Distribution, Status and Biology (1981), IUCN (1982) and Luders (1983). The IUCN account is bascd on Dickinson's Tlre estuarine crocodile (Crocodylrrs porosus information. Schneicler l80l) is n'idely rlistributed from the east coast of India to the Southrvest Pacific. In Vanuatu, the crocodile has been recorded Within this range, it occurs in Sri Lanka, sporaclically from Malakula, Santo and Malo. Barrgladesh, Burrnil,'l'hailand, I\lirlaysia, The only breeding population recorded has Ci.rmboclin, Vietnam, Philippines, lnrlonesia, been from the Port Patteson area of eastern llrunei, Palrua Nen' Guinea, northern Vanua Lava. The accounts of Dickinson and r\ustrillia, Pillau, Solomon Islnnds and Luders are at variance over the status of the \r:trruntu. 'l'hus. Vanuatu is at the crocodile in Vanua Lava. According to easternmost limit of this extensive range, as Dickinson, the population was perhaps up to secn in Figure l. 50 animals in the early 1980s. According to Luders, the crocodile population was 'l'he estuarine crocorlile is chssifiad b1' the decimated by cyclone Wendy. This struck the lnlernntional Union lbr thc Conservation of island on 2 February 1972, with wind speeds Nirture as errdangered, rrreaning that it. is up to 220 kilometres per hour. Much or all of liable t,o bccome cxtinct unless clfcctive the crocorlile arcas were inundated by rough prutective mcasures are takcn flUCN, 1982). seas and an acljacent school rvas totally Throughout rnuch of it,s range, the clocorlile clestrol'ed. Luders estimated thal the hirs clisirllllearctl or bccome severcll' deplet,ecl crocodiles were retluced from perhaps 200 in areas rvhere it, s'as frrrmerly abundant. It anirnals to u ferv inclivitluals at this time. has tlis;rllpeared com;rlct.el.y from rvest lntlia, .Singnllore and southern China. 'l'hc causcs of Accortling t,o his report, crocodile numbers had t,hrlsc lctlut:lions arc hunting. mirinlv for its ncvcr recovcretl ancl only sporirclic sightings valuirlrlc skin. anrl loss uf coastnl htrbitac n'crc subsetlucntlS, reportecl bv local villagers. lhrough larrd reclarn:rtion schttmes. At Prior to C1'clone Srenrl.y, sightings were a daily llrcscnl. lhcra arc consirlcrctl to bc atlerlurrte occurrcncc arrd tracks were to be seen along the fr-rrcshore irr t.he irnrl sier,ure poltulirtion nurrt[tor's ortl.r' in llitrts iiburttliurtly' central of' lrurtlrcrn Aust r:lliit trntl Nerr' Ouinca. arncl nolthern llarts of Port Pattcson. 'l'hc cstrrirrinc crocotlilc oct:ur; ntitinl_1' alorrg r\ccortling to Luclers, the crocodiles are found nrainll, in the Nagpcn and Red Water, soir cu:lsts, eslleciall-t. in brackish rlrcirs surlh ars river nlilngl'ovcs an(l aroun(l rivcr moulhs. It may, rvhich florv into Ptirt Patieson, ancl the lrou'cvcr, be found upstream in rnrrjor rivers Alligator River, a short inlet to the north of (Figure and in I'reshrvater s\\'rlrnl)s. Fent:rles lav eggs. Wonos Nan'on 2). Tlre contlition of the fronr 25 -90, in large nrounrl -ncsts rvhich the1, Nagpen river apparently cleteriorat.etl after build fronr a virriely of living ancl dcarl leaves, Cyclone \Vendy, and perhaps became brimches nnrl tu'igs. The hatchlings eilt unsuiLablc for crocodiles. In the early 1980s, nrainl.y cruslaceans, insects and small fish crocodiles were believed |o occur mainlv in the rvhilst. adult, animals take succcssively largcr Alligator Itiver. anim:rls arrrl verlebrrltcs as thcy bcconre older. Ncithcr Dickinson nor Luders reporbed any Large crocodilcs can alt:rck antl kill cattle and attacks b.y t,he crococliles on humans, and horses. I\'lnlcs becolnc se xuall.v rnal.r,rre at allllarentl.v such incitlents hatl never occurred around a length of ;l.Z melres (alxlrt 16 years up to the early 1980s. 'l'hey did, however, okl), rvhilst. l'emales rcach maturity at around record a number of attacks on crococliles by 2.2 metrcs (allout l0 vcars old). The largest humans: six animals rvcre shot by a local crocodile recorrletl apllarent,lv reached nine resiclent llrior to 1972, inclutling one of about 5 nletrOs. metres; seven crocodiles were shot by Solomon lslanclers in lg?3; a 4.8-metre crocodile shot in 1980; and occasional, untlirt,ecl, spearings by villagers. Alt,hough there rvere no relrorts of attacks on humans b.y Dickinson anrl Luders, they did rellort thal crocorliles fed on cat[le, pigs and rlogs. Figure I: Tlrc Pocific locatiort, and tlrc nvfior islanrls of Vcutu.utu, slrcuthrg tltose (o) front whiclt crocorli.le.s lmue been, recorded..
a Torres Islonds 170" E o oo o t9'.^ureporoporQ ,), o ' vonro Lova \f Bonks Is[onds ILOS tGauo Q o n 'sonto\ voe'o I\X^ " "\ tttrtttfiAm boe Il0 1O0 km Ur,,3 \""","cosr 76o's ....,-,,,1*,'- * Ambrym Motakuto \) [rg' o ;" Shepherd Istands o o
.Av\' Efore PortuI V ilo
Popuo o^ S olomons Erromafieo -\ New o-o n* Guines ' j, Fii^-oo \5 i;! n 6 Ionno \$ o Brisbone \o u) A neityum O f, New { Zectlu ffigo E Fi,gu,re 9: fte,.portetil loca,.tuoras (+) af a'racadilesrgJitdrrgrs an eest constVirytua Lolua Qt=I{utcarylmu,,4 = Ailggqtnr Riuer, q:td R = Bed Water) Thus, following Cyclone Wencly in lg?2, the status of the crocodile in Vanua Lava is 3. Methods uncertain. However, six "small" crocodiles (apparently less than two metres) and a larger The study rvas carried out by three main one (three metres) wcre reported by villagers methods during field trip t,o Vanua Lava from in late 1982 or early 1983. As Dickinson did l3 -17 June 1989: not visit, Vanua Lava but Luders spent, trvo a. Visits to the main areas from rvhich the weeks there, the report of Luders is probably crocotlile has been reported (Alligator more reliable. and Nagllen rivers, Red Water), both to It appears, then, that at lea.st seven crocodiles look for crocodiles and to assess the were present in the early 1980s. As eight habitat; crocodiles were reportedly shot between lg73 b. Discussions rvith villagers to gain and 1980, appears it either that at least l5 information on their recent and past animals survived the cyclone or unknorvn an experiences and knorvledge of the number survived and there was some breeding crocodile; and, occurring. The la[ter seems likely, as evidenced by the reported occurrence of the six c. Distribtrtion of a ques[ionnaire, designed "small" crocodiles srvimming together in the to supplement b. and gain information early 1980s. Normally, such grouping frorn mure villagers than rve could talk to behaviour persists only for about eight months (Anne.x 1). Twenty questionnaires u'ere after hatching and territorial behaviour begins completecl and returncd to us. at the age of about 2.5 years (IUCN, 1982). As the resulfs obtained from these three diffcrent mefhods complement one another, the data gained frorn each are consirlerecl jointly in the follorving account. 2. Aims and Objectives of the Survey
2.1 Aims
The crocodile is an animal of sonre interest rvorldwide and the status of the Vanuatu population is uncertain. Thus, the Environment Unit of rhe Ministry of Lands, It{inerals, Geology anrl Rural Water Sullply undertook a short project, in June lg89 to evaluate the present $tatus of the est,uarine crocodile in Vanua Lava, the onlf island in the country where it is knorvn to have bred.
2.2 Objectives
The objectives of t.he llrojocl $'ere to: . assess the current status of the estuarine crocodile in Vanua Lava; r attemllt to find explanations for whatever the current status is; . assess interactions betrveen humans and crocodiles: . assess the condition of the crocodile's known main habitats: and. r make any recomrnendations deemed necessary concerning the crocodile in Vanuatu. Although Patteson was Bishop of Melanesia 4. Results frorn 186l to 1871, he visitecl Vanua Lava for the first tirne in 1856. Apparently on that occasion he visiterl the west sirle of the island. 4.', Arrival of Crocodiles in Vanua and his first, visit to Port Patteson (named by Lava hint after his father) \yas not until 1857. Thus the introtluction lvould have been between Dickinson (1C81) reports lha[ according to lB57 and 1871. If the crococtile was introduced trarlition. all the Vanua Luva crocorliles l'er-e this rvay, it rvas obviously fortuilous. lf onll' tlescendcrl lrom onc colonizing fenrale. Luders one crocodile lvas introduced, it must have (l$t}l) nrentions that he rliscoverctl no storics beerr a pregnant female. 'l'his would mean it or buliefs alloul t.he crocotlile and ars.sumctl that rvas al leilst 2.2 metrcs lclng (about 1.5 feet), if such ever existcd, thel' had been forgotten and a highll' dnngerous animal. lf two smaU n'ith tirne. Flou'cver, 1:ractically every person animals were introduced, they must have been lve talkecl to or who lilled in the rluestionnaire a male ancl a female and lucky to survive to recountcrl tlre snrne stor-!' - that thc crocotlile nraturity, a period of perhalls l5 years in the rvirs lccirlent.all.l' introducetl ttr Vanuat Lava br' case of a small nrale. ,luhn Coleritlge Pat,teson, the Anglican l3islrop ll the crocodiles n'ere noi introduced by Bisholr of 1861 | l\{elnnesia l'rorn o 187 L Pirtteson, then the most likell' exlllanation is 'l'hc reportetl clctails of horv exacl,l.y Bishop that the island u'as colonized by one or more I)irtleson rvils re$ponsible for introclucing the ernimals corning clou'n fronr Solomon Islands. crocorlile varv sonrcrvhirt,. 'l'hus, Ihe follorving Crocodiles trre common at Vanikoro, one of the rvere rcl)ort,etl: one crocodile jrrnrllcd out of his most southerll' of Solomon Islands, :rnd the hitntls; ontt cromrrlile escaltcrl li'onr his shill distance from \tanua Lava, allout 150 anchoretl in the llal'; thc Bisholr let t\r'o kilometres, could eirsily be traversed bv them. t:rocorliles lrc hatl hirve ir sn'im in lietl \\'ntcr irnrl tlrcl' esc;r;rcrl; the Bisht-rp lct tlo clococliles 4.2 Present Numbers of Crocodiles havtr a sn'irn in (hc sr::r, nnrl lost thcnr: thc Bisholl ltrotrght aslrutt-. trvo snrlrll crocodilcs in in Vanua Lava it rlish :rntl pllrct'tl llrcre closc tr-r ltctl \\:atcr. trl't cr rvhir:h tlrel srrllsetlucnllv csr:trpcrl. 'fhus, Out of lu replios on t.he rluestionnaire, 14 all these storics nre (,ssnnliirllv thc snrnc, but it lleople estiruatetl the crocotlile pogrulation at 1- animals. thmre fr'()rn one is slrill.tgrt tlilrI tlr0.r' \\'('re rt0t rt:r:tiuntetl tr.r l0 lreolllc ilt I l-20 and Ltrtlers rluring lri.s investig:rt.ion.s on the islanr[. at more thrn 60. Trvo of these lleollle stat.ecl sllccilicall.v th:t[ tlrere was one onl.y, rvhilst one If thc story is truo, cxirr:tlv s'hy the Bishop I)crson strid there n'ere tlrree. ln discussions n'ttuk[ h:lve r:rtx'otliles on his boat is a nt.r'stcr_v. n'ith villirgers n'ho secmetl knorvledgeable I Ic cr:rtirinll' rvoukl hn'e ltlentl' of ollpurtr.rnily about the crocorlilc, lhere $'ils consensus thnt to get thcnr. lbl thcv itrc contrnon in sorne tltere are onl.y trvo or three prcsent.l.y living orr ltirrls of Sulonrorr Islirnrls to thc nrlrth of \ranul the island. l-rtvir. 'l'hc Ilislroll nr:rrlc ilrlnu:rl tours :rroun(l thc Solunrurrs anrl rrorlhcrn \ranuatu, first, 'fhe bc.st available evitlence thon suggests thal fronr his bnse in Ncrr' Zeallntl irnrl then later there are verl' few crocodiles rcgaining, cluit,e liurn Norl'olk Islrrnrl. possibl.y only ttvo or three. These were staterl to be large animals. All rcsponrlents cxeept one Six biogrirphius of Bisholl Patt.cson said t.hey had never scen young nnimals art all, (,\r'nrstrorrg. 11100: Fox. l9D:]; Gulch, lg?l; lvhilst onu said he hrrd not seen t,hcnr for "a Ll:rlcombc, 1872 antl 187;3; Page, lEf)?) rvere Iong t,inre". lt thus iU)l)ears that the crocodiles. stutlicd in irn enrlcit\'our to t::rst somc light on hon'evcr nrany t.hele ilrc, ilrc not breeding and tlris mt'ster\,. Ikrn'cv0r, t.here is no rncnt.ion of have not, tlone so for sonre time. r:ror:orliles irr ilnv ol'thorn, eithcr in the Soklmorr lsllntls, \'lnua Lava t-rr on the bo:rt. Luders' observat.ion that small crocorliles n'ere seen in 1982 or 1983 is $trong evidcnce thaf Some biognrphics qrrot.e cxtensivcly I'r'ont the thcy u'ere breoding a(. lelst up urrtil the earll' bisholl's glcrsonal luttcrs. l{tl n'as an accural.e lSSOs. II'indccd thcre are orrly tn'o or three itnrl nretit:ulousl.l' rlrrtailcrl recortlcr of *,hat he arrimal.q lcft, t,hcn t.hcrc is a goocl chance that sir\\'. Porhirlts an cxirrninirtion of his lettcrs thcy are of the sflrne .scx a 50:50 chance if tlvo n'oukl rr)r'cal a rcfurcnce to crocodilcs. Until an rcmlin, antl a I in 4 chirnce if three rcmain. ex:rrninalion is r:omrrletcd, confirmat.ion of thc Bishop's ;rurllortctl introtlrrction of crocorlilcs Lo \r:rnuirtu clnnot bc nratle. In response to the rluestion asking whether On the other islnnds of Vanultu (allarf from crocodile numbers rvere increasing, shady or Sant.o, IUalakula arrd l\,lalo mentioned earlier) declining, the anslvers were nine, seven ancl crocodiles have been rellorted (this study) from three respectively. The number of lleollle Gauzr (25 kilometres to the south) and Lorulr stating increases is somewhat confusing, as all Bay (Urepariq).rra island) 25 kilometres to the other evidence points to very low numbers. northn'est of Vanua Lava. In both t,hese Perhaps this reflects an incorrect assumption instance$, local villrrgers spearecl a crococlile to macle, in fact that recently the crocodiles have death. At UreJlarapara, this spearing took been attacking paople, something they had place shortly aftcr cy'clone Wendy, suggesting never previously been known to clo (Section that the anirnirl hird been rvashed awav from 4.6). Those pcople reporting a decline stated Vanua Laver. that it'had occurrecl since cyclone Wendy. Those people rellorting no change gave no intlication of the time scale to which they rvere 4. 4 Breeding Crocodiles referring. In the last five or six years numbers al)pear to have been consistently lorv. Tha report.etl localities of crocodile nesting areas are shou,n in Figure il. Generall.y the.y All people that rve spoke to said that crocodile are from the silnre areils rrs reporte(l for sightings are now extremely rare. crococlile sightings (Figtrre 2). Thus nesting Arklitionall.y, tracks in sancly or murkly areas sites \\'ere reportetl along the Pagpaglog, are also infrequent,ly seen. As many of the Nagpen, Rerl Water and Alligator rivers as people spoken to live within only a ferv rvcll as on lhc unnamerl stream to the north of hrrndred metres of the cxrcodile areas and the latter. Sites rvcre rcpclrt.ed u1l to three or frequentl.y visit these rivers ancl mangroves, four kilometres inlitnd. No nesting sites were such sparse sightings must. be consitleretl reported fronr the northern llart of the area in reliable. It is in direct. contrast to the situation which crococliles arc/rverc regularly seen. prevailing ;lrior to 1972, lvhen crocodile sightings rvere a daily occtrrrence. There is no doubt that a crocodile breeding population of the crocorlile was well During our visit, we sl)ent many hours in establishetl prior to 1972. Since cyclone knorvn crocodile ureas ancl along the sandy Wcndl', the si[uation is not so cle ar, but shores rvhere sightings $'ere once braeding does allpear l.cl have occurred at, least. commonyllace. We silrv no crocodiles nor any slloraclically rrntil the oarl-v 1980s. Since 1982 signs of them. or 1983 whcn young crocodiles u'ere seen, it is possible that liftle or no brecrling hirs occurred. 4.3 Distribution of Crocodiles 'fhe absence of any sightings of young animal.s in the last felv years suggests strongly that breeding has either not occurred cluring thi.,i The known localities of crocorlile sightings, time. or has bcen rrnsuccessful. If the laL[er. cornpiled from the present sturly, are shorvn in eggs must, presumabl.y not have hat,che
10 6. Acknowledgments, Quantirr, P. 1977. Archipel des Nouuelles [Iebritles. Atlu^s cles Sots et quelqu.es Literature Cited and donrrces do milieu na,lure.l. Iles Butks et Torrc.s. Outputs ORSTON'I. Paris. 6.3 Outputs
6.1 Acknowledgements In addition to the present. paper, a shorter more popularly .st1'led paper entitled ,A We arc gratclll to the South Pacific Regional Survey of the Estuarine Crocodiles Bnvironment Programme fur provitling funds (Crocodylrrs llorosus) of Vanua Lava" has been for lhis llroject. \\re a1l;lreciat.e very much t.hc submitted to Naiko, the Journal of the assistnnce and hospitality of Fathcr Lake llIini Vanuatu Natural Science Society. dtrring our sta.y at Port, Patteson, and the he\l frorn villugers and governmcnt officers in It is also llroposed to submit a short technical itnslvering our questions. We also thank the paper to an international scientific journal suclr as Biologiuil Con serttctliott. \rirnuatu I\{eteorological Service for 1>roviding inlirrmation allout t.he occurrcnce of c-t'clones irt \':tnua Lava.
6.2 Literature Cited
Arrrrslrong, E.S. 1900. Tlte History ol the Ilclurte.sictn, /l/ission. Isbister and Co. Ltd.. l,ontlon. 3G7 p;t. f)irkirrstrrr, A. 1981. /l/rlntrc crocodil,es ilt, l'ott.utrl.tt.. Naika 3, 5-6. fJo.r. ('.li. l95fl. Lord of l.lrc Soullrcr.rr. /sftrs. r. f Nlorvhrir.r', '\. l.onrlon . 272 1tp. (irrlclr, J. ll)?1. llurtyr ol tlrc.Islrurr/s; 'l'1rc Life rrtrtl Drullt o[ .]olnr Oolaridgc l\tllesort. lltxltlcr antl St,ouglrton, London . 223 p1t, f lrrlconrbe, J..1. ltl?Z. Fife of Bisbop Puil,eson,. l,ontlun Societl' {br Promoting Chri.stian lirrorvlerlge. 218 pp. f litlt:trmbe, J.J. 1873. Sftetcft.es of tlrc Life of Bislrclt Putle.sort ilt, Alelutesia. Lonrkrn Socie t,y for Promot ing Christiun
Iinou'lctlge. 204 1111. fUCN. l9tl2. Tlrc ILI(:N Amphibia-Rtptiliu Red Dulo Boolt. I'urL I: Testudhrcs, Llror:od,yliu, [llrytrcltoceplm.Iiu. IUCN, ()lanrl. Srvitzcrlanrl. 426 pp.
Lurlcls. D. 1983. 'l'\rc scllrrrrrlcr cro<:odi"Ie popukttion o/ (Crucorh'lus ;torosu s) l, il Thus the crocodile populations in the island 7. Problems and nations of Vanuatu, Sokrmon Islands and Environmental Palau are probably at risk of extinction (with the possible exceJ:fion of Vtrnikoro) in the short Significance and to medium term. The populations of Australia and Papua Nerv Guinea seem to be secure in lmplications the long-term, although populations may become locally extinct in Papua New Guinea. Undoubtedly, the Vanuatu population is the 7.1 Problems Encountered one most at risk in the region. 7.2.3 Global None, apart from the lack of crocodiles. Globally, the Vanuatu estuarine crocodiles are the most easterly. Thus, the loss of the Environmental Significance and 7.2 population here lvould cause an overaU lmplications shrinkage of the rangc of this species. This rvould be regreitable, but the fate of the 7.2.1 Local population here will not, have any effect on the global survival or extinction of the sllecies. The project has confumed many of the This rrltimate fate will be decided in countries previous finclings concerning the estuarine rvhere it is nory abunclant, such as Australiir crocodile and increased the recorded and Papua New Guinea. knowledge of them in Vanuatu. Every indication is that there are very few crocodiles 7.2.4 Management and Policy on Vanua Lava, ancl these do not appear to be breeding. It thus seems only a maLter of time The Vanuatu crocodile popul:rtion can before they become extinct on the island, and probably only be savod from ext,inction by releasing anrVor young therefore Vanuatu. This loss n'ould be importing and adult generally rvelcomed on Vanua Lava, although animals frorn elsewhere. 'l'his would be be it would result in an impoverishment of Lhe difficult and expensive. It lvould also already low numbers of vertebrate s;:ecies in unlropular and resisLed by the residents of Vanuatu. Vanua Lava. ln view of all this, the best policy seems to be to not interfere in any way, antl let 7.2.2 Sub-regional and regional na[ure take ils course. Time rvill tell what that course will be - either extinct,ion or. least The estuarine crocodile occurs in Vanuatu, likel-v, a recornmoncement of brceding. Solomons, Palau, Australia ancl Papua New Guinea. In Pzrlau it was rellortcd to be relatively common in the late 1070s, and 300 rvere kilied in a control programme in 1975. Its present status is unknown. In the Solomons it has doclinecl in the last 40 years, chiefly due t,o hide -hunting. It is thought to be uncommon on most islands except Vanikoro, where it is regarded as sacred. ln Papua Nerv Guinca it is widcsllreatl, though hunied everyn,here, mainly in llopulatecl areas. It is farrned in some- areas, 1'oung, rvilcl animnls being caught and rearetl in cagcs. In Australia, ntrmbcrs rleclinerl follorving hunting after Workl War II. It is now procected and numbers seem secure providing this protection can be maintained. 12 8. RecomffiBhd?tions for Follow-up and Further Work 8. 1 Work in Vanuatu Tho status of the erocodilo in Vanua Lava should be checkeel everv tw.o or threc years. This could be clone quite'simply by a shori visit to the island to holtl discue.sions with the locul villagere. They would be able to report on the frequenay anrl nature of any sightings. From these the status sf the $oeodiles on the is'Iand csuld be derlucecl 8.2 Overseas Work There ic a need to evaluate the status of the estuarine crocodile in Solomon Islands and Palau. This can be done foirly sirnply and ir,rexlrensively lly a csmbinntion of site vigits ancl qrrestionnairgg, an in the current Vanuatu projoct. The pottulatisns in Australia anel Paptra Ncry Guinea are Rlready the subjects of much g'tud.v in those c'ol.rntries, l3 Annex 1: Croeodile Questlonnaire. Tlrc queetiott'nai,res uere wril;tetr, iir,Pidgi.n Englistrt [Bislam,o), tlwl.ocallingwu frwrea, Ttre Erlviionnent Unit of the iVliniqt.ry of Lands is rnaking a study of the eroeodile in Vanua Lava. There is little ttrat is known about the cro.codile, so w,e ara asking for your help. Please answer as marNy questions as you ean. lt does not ma,tter ilyou cannot an$wsr all Ohe questions. l. Your name: 2. Itow did thre erocodiles first got to V-anua Lava? 3. Have the croeodiles attacked people? Yes No If the answer is yes, pleasa give rletails: 4, Do crocodilcs attack any of the following: Prdts cattle lrcrses dOgs goa.s Otl:rcr anr,i:rnals? t Do people in Vauua Lava attaak croeodiles? Y.es No lf yes, how? \thy?' 6. Where have you ssen croeodilee? Please rnark tho places ori lanrl or Eea where you have seen them (map provided). V. [f you know where crocodiles hav.e [ai(t theii eggs, please mark the places oli the map provicled. L F{ow many crocodiles do you think therc are on Vanua Lava? r-10 11.24 2r.80 3I-60 Morc I'l:wrt, 60 More tltatt 100 9. [n past years, do you think that the numbels of crocodiles hirve: Increg^seil Deeressed Stayecl th& saurc lf numbers have dccreased, why do you think this is? lO Do you like,having crocodiles on Vanrrra Lava? Yes N,o Dan'L eaf;e I l. Concerning baby crocodiles, have you seen ttrem: Recen',tly? Irfi,euerz Not, far along tinte? 12. Please say anything else you want to a.bout, crocsdiles on Varrua Lava. l4