Siamese Crocodile in Lao PDR
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DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY LAO PDR A Publication of the Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme 4JBNFTF$SPDPEJMF JO-BP1%3 0RELIMINARY3TATUS2EVIEWOFTHE3IAMESE#ROCODILE#ROCODYLUS SIAMENSIS3#(.%)$%2 2EPTILIA#ROCODYLIA IN,AO0$2 BIODIVERSITY/REPORT - MWBP.L.B.2.10.05 The designation of geographical entities in the book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme (or other participating organisations, e.g. the Governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Mekong River Commission (MRC)) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme (or other participating organisations, e.g. the Governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, UNDP, IUCN and MRC). Published by: Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme (MWBP) Copyright: © 2006 Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (MWBP) Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purpose is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. The content of this publication was correct at the time of writing - June 2005 Citation: Bezuijen, M.R., C. Phothitay, M. Hedemark and S. Chanrya (2006). Preliminary status review of the Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis Schneider, 1801) (Reptilia: Crocodylia) in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 114 pp ISBN: Cover design by: Studio Terra Co., Ltd. Cover photo: M. Bezuijen: MWBP/WCS Layout by: Studio Terra Co., Ltd. Produced by: Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme Printed by: Ink On Paper Co., Ltd. Map production by: Chris Hallam and Michael Hedemark Available from: Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme Programme Management Unit 082/02 Fa Ngum Road, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: +856 (0)21 240 904, Fax: +856 (0)21 216 127 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mekongwetlands.org The text of this book is printed on Art Matte 105 gsm paper Preliminary Status Review of the Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis Schneider, 1801) (Reptilia: Crocodylia) in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic 1 Preliminary Status Review of Siamese Crocodile in Lao PDR TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................................3 Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................3 ®ö©£ñ©-¹¨ Ó- (Summary) .............................................................................................................5 ¢Ó¦½ÀÎó (Recommendations) ..................................................................................................9 Summary..............................................................................................................................14 Recommendations ................................................................................................................17 1. Introduction......................................................................................................................21 1.1 Siamese Crocodile..........................................................................................................21 1.2 Project Background ........................................................................................................22 1.3 Objectives ......................................................................................................................22 2. Methods............................................................................................................................23 2.1 Study Areas ....................................................................................................................23 2.2 Field Surveys in 2005 .....................................................................................................24 2.2.1 Selection of Survey Sites..........................................................................................24 2.2.2 Summary of Survey Effort ........................................................................................25 2.2.3 Crocodile Survey Methods........................................................................................26 2.2.4 Interviews.................................................................................................................28 2.2.5 Nesting and Morphometrics .....................................................................................28 2.2.6 Wetland Habitats ......................................................................................................28 2.2.7 Socio-Economic Conditions Near Wetlands ..............................................................28 2.3 National Records ............................................................................................................29 2.4 Data Analysis and Limitations.........................................................................................30 3. Legislative Status and Policy ............................................................................................33 3.1 National Legislation ........................................................................................................33 3.2 International Policy .........................................................................................................33 4. Available Data on Biology and Ecology in Lao PDR ........................................................35 4.1 Taxonomy.......................................................................................................................35 4.2 Morphology and Biometrics............................................................................................35 4.3 Habitat............................................................................................................................37 4.3.1 National Records .........................................................................................................37 4.3.2 Wetlands Surveyed in 2005 .........................................................................................39 4.4 Nesting and Dispersal.....................................................................................................40 4.5 Diet.................................................................................................................................43 5. Distribution and Abundance .............................................................................................44 5.1 Historic Distribution and Abundance...............................................................................44 5.2 Current Distribution ........................................................................................................47 5.3 Minimum Number of Crocodiles Seen in 2005 ...............................................................47 Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme 2 6. Community Perceptions....................................................................................................51 6.1 Summary of 2005 Interviews..........................................................................................51 6.2 Crocodile Taxonomy .......................................................................................................52 6.3 Cultural Significance .......................................................................................................52 6.4 Hunting...........................................................................................................................53 6.5 Socio-Economic Conditions at Villages Surveyed in 2005 ...............................................54 7. Threats .............................................................................................................................56 7.1 Historic Commercial Trade (<1979) ................................................................................56 7.2 Current Commercial Trade (>1980).................................................................................57 7.3 Habitat Loss ...................................................................................................................58 7.4 Fishing............................................................................................................................59 7.5 Hybridisation of Wild Populations ...................................................................................60 7.6 Disturbance Index...........................................................................................................60 8. Conservation ....................................................................................................................63