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Community Crocodile Wardens in Cambodia: Progress and Potential

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Abstract

The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is one of the rarest crocodilians in the world, with only a few hundred adults left in the wild. Although protected by law in Cambodia, their numbers continue to dwindle due to a host of factors, including the collection of live crocodiles to stock farms, accidental drowning in fishing nets, and the destruction of wetlands. The protection of wild crocodiles by government rangers and officials has improved in recent years yet remains inadequate due to the fact that the remaining crocodiles are widely scattered across vast and difficult terrain. Only two or three hundred adults remain, most of which are in the Cardamom Mountains, in Southwest Cambodia. To strengthen the protection of crocodiles, the Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme (a joint initiative of Fauna & Flora International and the Forestry Administration) has therefore begun working with local communities in the Cardamom Mountains. Two communes have now established crocodile sanctuaries and developed by-laws to protect the crocodiles and their habitats, and three communes have established community warden patrols. The performance and progress of these wardens are the main focus of this report. Fourteen wardens have been recruited and trained by Programme staff, comprising ten from O’Som Commune, and four from Chum Noap and Thma Dom Pov communes in the Areng valley. The O’Som and Areng areas have important breeding colonies of Siamese crocodiles in close proximity to villages, and many of the local indigenous people have a traditional respect for them. The new wardens were tasked with (1) raising awareness of the crocodiles and the local regulations to protect them, (2) gathering information about the crocodiles, threats and local attitudes, and (3) reporting serious illegal activities to the government authorities. Normally working in pairs, the wardens patrolled six priority sites up to four times a month, and presented their findings every month using simple, standardized report forms. They received regular visits from project staff throughout the year to guide them in their duties and discuss any problems encountered. The wardens’ monthly reports for 2006 provide information on the number of crocodiles and sign seen, and could form the basis of a long term monitoring programme. No poaching incidents were recorded in 2006, but the wardens reported more than 42 visitors to the two sites from as far as Phnom Penh, most of whom said that they had come to see the crocodiles. The wardens also recorded a number of local developments and concerns within their areas, and, in several cases, successfully enabled local authorities to halt them (e.g., the closure of illegal mreah prew processing factories that were discovered by wardens in O’Som commune). Feedback from their local communities showed that they had a strong awareness and appreciation of the wardens and their work. The wardening scheme thus appears to be performing a meaningful role in the conservation of crocodiles and their habitats, and should be continued and expanded to more communities. Discussions were begun with Chay Reap village, Dong Peng commune, with a view to recruiting and training wardens here: this village has already demonstrated a strong will to protect its local crocodiles and other wetland wildlife. Some important lessons were learned in 2006, which need to be borne in mind in the future development of the wardening scheme. In particular, the wardens must be able to count on the support of police, rangers or other enforcement officers, especially where they are vulnerable to intimidation by more powerful individuals or groups involved in illegal activities. It may also be desirable to recruit full-time wardens, rather than part-time ones, because the latter have conflicting demands on their time, especially during the rice farming season.
Community Crocodile Wardens in Cambodia:
Progress and Potential
Boyd K. Simpson, Sorn Piseth, Hor Leng,
Chhun Sopheak and Jenny C. Daltry
2006
Forestry Administration and Fauna & Flora International (Cambodia)
in association with Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund,
Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme
and DEFRA Flagship Species Fund
i
Community Crocodile Wardens in Cambodia:
Progress and Potential
Boyd K. Simpson1, Sorn Piseth2, Hor Leng2,
Chhun Sopheak2 and Jenny C. Daltry3
1 Fauna & Flora International – Cambodia Programme. PO Box 1380, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Email: boydsimpson@everyday.com.kh
2 Forestry Administration, #40 Monivong Blvd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Email: wpo@forum.org.kh
3 Fauna & Flora International, Great Eastern House, Tenison Rd, Cambridge, CB1 2TT, UK.
Email: jenny.daltry@fauna-flora.org
December 2006
Above: O’Som Community Crocodile Wardens carrying marker posts to the Veal Veng Marsh
Crocodile Sanctuary (Hor Leng, Forestry Administration).
Cover photo: Warden Min Pbang counting the number of fertile eggs in a Siamese crocodile nest in
Veal Veng Marsh (Boyd Simpson, Fauna & Flora International).
ii
Contents
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................1
Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 2
The Siamese Crocodile........................................................................................................................ 2
Site-Specific Threats............................................................................................................................ 2
The Cardamom Mountains .................................................................................................................. 2
Traditional Communities in the Cardamom Mountains ......................................................................3
The Community Warden Scheme........................................................................................................ 3
Methods.....................................................................................................................................5
Identifying Priority Crocodile Sites..................................................................................................... 5
Community Crocodile Wardens .......................................................................................................... 6
Crocodile Warden Tasks...................................................................................................................... 7
Patrol Areas and Reporting.................................................................................................................. 7
Results ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Crocodile Warden Patrols.................................................................................................................... 8
Crocodiles Seen................................................................................................................................... 8
Crocodile Signs.................................................................................................................................... 9
Identified Threats and Warden Response..........................................................................................10
Visitors and Tourists.......................................................................................................................... 11
Community Liaison ........................................................................................................................... 11
Community crocodile sanctuary regulations................................................................................. 12
Awareness materials...................................................................................................................... 12
Community information and perception ........................................................................................12
Discussion................................................................................................................................14
Warden Performance and Achievements........................................................................................... 14
Challenges and Constraints................................................................................................................ 14
Local Benefits of Wardens ................................................................................................................ 15
Chhay Reap Village: Another Potential Site for Community Wardens?........................................... 15
Description of site.......................................................................................................................... 15
Appraisal methods and findings..................................................................................................... 16
Future prospects ............................................................................................................................ 17
References...............................................................................................................................18
1
Executive Summary
The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is one of the rarest crocodilians in the world, with only
a few hundred adults left in the wild. Although protected by law in Cambodia, their numbers continue
to dwindle due to a host of factors, including the collection of live crocodiles to stock farms,
accidental drowning in fishing nets, and the destruction of wetlands. The protection of wild crocodiles
by government rangers and officials has improved in recent years yet remains inadequate due to the
fact that the remaining crocodiles are widely scattered across vast and difficult terrain. Only two or
three hundred adults remain, most of which are in the Cardamom Mountains, in Southwest Cambodia.
To strengthen the protection of crocodiles, the Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme (a joint
initiative of Fauna & Flora International and the Forestry Administration) has therefore begun working
with local communities in the Cardamom Mountains. Two communes have now established crocodile
sanctuaries and developed by-laws to protect the crocodiles and their habitats, and three communes
have established community warden patrols. The performance and progress of these wardens are the
main focus of this report.
Fourteen wardens have been recruited and trained by Programme staff, comprising ten from O’Som
Commune, and four from Chum Noap and Thma Dom Pov communes in the Areng valley. The
O’Som and Areng areas have important breeding colonies of Siamese crocodiles in close proximity to
villages, and many of the local indigenous people have a traditional respect for them. The new
wardens were tasked with (1) raising awareness of the crocodiles and the local regulations to protect
them, (2) gathering information about the crocodiles, threats and local attitudes, and (3) reporting
serious illegal activities to the government authorities. Normally working in pairs, the wardens
patrolled six priority sites up to four times a month, and presented their findings every month using
simple, standardized report forms. They received regular visits from project staff throughout the year
to guide them in their duties and discuss any problems encountered.
The wardens’ monthly reports for 2006 provide information on the number of crocodiles and sign
seen, and could form the basis of a long term monitoring programme. No poaching incidents were
recorded in 2006, but the wardens reported more than 42 visitors to the two sites from as far as Phnom
Penh, most of whom said that they had come to see the crocodiles. The wardens also recorded a
number of local developments and concerns within their areas, and, in several cases, successfully
enabled local authorities to halt them (e.g., the closure of illegal mreah prew processing factories that
were discovered by wardens in O’Som commune). Feedback from their local communities showed
that they had a strong awareness and appreciation of the wardens and their work.
The wardening scheme thus appears to be performing a meaningful role in the conservation of
crocodiles and their habitats, and should be continued and expanded to more communities.
Discussions were begun with Chay Reap village, Dong Peng commune, with a view to recruiting and
training wardens here: this village has already demonstrated a strong will to protect its local crocodiles
and other wetland wildlife.
Some important lessons were learned in 2006, which need to be borne in mind in the future
development of the wardening scheme. In particular, the wardens must be able to count on the support
of police, rangers or other enforcement officers, especially where they are vulnerable to intimidation
by more powerful individuals or groups involved in illegal activities. It may also be desirable to recruit
full-time wardens, rather than part-time ones, because the latter have conflicting demands on their
time, especially during the rice farming season.
2
Introduction
The Siamese Crocodile
The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is one of the rarest animals in the world. It is facing
extinction in the wild and has been listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union
(IUCN 2006). Once found throughout much of Southeast Asia, the global distribution and abundance
of the species have shrunk to a fraction of their former size. Only Cambodia, Laos and possibly
Indonesia have reported breeding groups in recent years (Bezuijen et al. 2005, Kurniati et al. 2005,
Simpson and Han 2004). The world’s largest remaining populations of Siamese crocodiles are
reported to reside in Cambodia, with an estimated 200 adults. Within Cambodia, the Cardamom
Mountains of the Southwest have been clearly identified as the stronghold (Daltry et al. 2003,
Simpson et al. 2006).
Siamese crocodile populations have been, and continue to be, affected by numerous pressures. The
most significant threats facing Cambodia’s crocodiles today are the collection of live animals to stock
crocodile farms, habitat destruction or alteration, and the accidental killing of crocodiles in various
types of fishing equipment (Simpson et al. 2006).
Site-Specific Threats
Threats to crocodiles vary from site to site, but the most commonly detected problems in our project
pilot sites include:
Poaching or hunting of crocodiles to sell to traders or crocodile farms. Catching methods
include snares, turtle lines, fishing nets, hooks, hand capture, night-time noosing
Habitat destruction - burning of riparian forest (e.g., to provide easy access for walking).
- cutting down trees for farming and mreah proh oil extraction.
- modifying low lying areas for rice growing.
- introducing herds of buffalos, which destroy banks, nesting areas,
degrade water quality and break floating grass mats.
- pumping or bailing out of small ponds for fishing purposes.
- pollution caused by illegal yellow vine (Coscinium) processing
factories.
- large-scale land clearing for commercial activities.
- hydro-electric power development.
Drowning or killing of crocodiles in fishing gear, using nets, hooks and illegal fishing methods
(electro-fishing and fishing with explosive and poisons)
The Cardamom Mountains
The Cardamom Mountains cover an area of nearly two million hectares, and are rated by the FAO as
‘one of the most important sites for biodiversity conservation in Asia’. The tropical climate, with up to
3
5,000mm of rain annually, as well as a complex topography (ranging from sea level to 1,771m) have
given rise to numerous watersheds and a wide variety of habitat types.
Siamese crocodiles can be found in numerous rivers and wetlands, to an altitude of 600m, but they are
not evenly distributed throughout the mountains (Daltry et al. 2003). Breeding populations are
restricted to a handful of sites, particularly around O’Som commune (Pursat province) and the Areng
valley (Koh Kong province) (Simpson and Han. 2004).
Under various Cambodian laws (Fisheries Law, Forestry Law, Environmental Law), crocodiles are
fully protected from exploitation and destruction,. Furthermore, 25% of Cambodia (including over one
million hectares of the Cardamom Mountains) is now under protection, where stricter regulations
apply to natural habitats. The effective protection of the key breeding sites in particular, and Siamese
crocodiles in general is therefore recognied by law, but has been hampered by the rugged mountain
terrain, the scarcity of enforcement rangers in such a large area, and general public disregard for
national laws regarding wildlife and habitats.
Traditional Communities in the Cardamom Mountains
The indigenous people of the Cardamom Mountain area, the Highland Khmer, are a mixture of ethnic
minorities that still live in this remote region of the country. Although now integrated into mainstream
Khmer society, these ethnic groups still hold on to traditional beliefs relating to crocodiles, spirits and
the environment.
The Por minority in particular see the crocodile as a sacred animal. There is a general taboo against
harming crocodiles, as doing so can bring bad luck to the person responsible and even their entire
village. Often before fishing in a lake or area where crocodiles are known to live, for example, the
people will first pray to the forest or crocodile spirit, so that any crocodiles will keep away from their
fishing nets and not be harmed.
The Community Warden Scheme
Addressing the threats to crocodiles through conventional protection by government enforcement
agencies is crucial, but has proved inadequate by itself, especially in remote and isolated areas where
there are too few rangers to give round-the-clock protection, and/or where the threats to the crocodiles
are not technically illegal (e.g., the conversion of wetlands to rice paddy and heavy grazing of buffalo
near nesting sites would normally be permitted).
To promote the conservation of crocodiles, and protect the globally-significant crocodile sites, the
assistance and cooperation of local communities is needed. Following a series of studies and
consultations, the Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme (CCCP) team surmised that some
of the indigenous communities, especially those who believe that harming crocodiles is wrong, could
play a useful role in augmenting the protection given by government rangers to conserve Siamese
crocodile in selected sites. The CCCP therefore launched a community project to encourage and
enable local communities to establish crocodile sanctuaries and enlist community wardens. The main
objectives of the community warden scheme in 2005 and 2006 can be summarized as follows:
1. To establish, train and deploy community-based crocodile wardens in two of the largest
known Siamese crocodile sites in Cambodia.
4
2. To record the achievements and problems encountered by the community wardens, and
recommend how to improve their effectiveness.
3. To assess the potential for further community-based crocodile wardens at Chhay Reap village,
Dong Peng commune, another significant crocodile site in Southwest Cambodia.
5
Methods
Identifying Priority Crocodile Sites
Crocodile sites were selected after extensive survey work over several years had identified the largest
known Siamese crocodile populations in Cambodia. These occupy the area around O’Som commune
in Pursat Province, and the Areng valley in Koh Kong Province (see Daltry et al. 2003, Simpson et al.
2006). Both sites are remote, being deep within the Cardamom Mountains and one or two day’s
journey from the nearest towns (Figure 1). During the wetter months, they can become isolated by
rising river levels, making access difficult. Importantly, both wetland areas contain breeding groups of
crocodiles, with a number of village communities living in close proximity to the breeding sites.
The communities of O’Som Commune and the villages along the Areng valley exhibit a strong Por
ethnic influence, and have lived in both areas for generations (see Daltry et al. 2004 for details
regarding O’Som). Their inherent respect for crocodiles provides a solid base on which to recruit
wardens. Wardens were selected after consultation with the village and commune chiefs, and the
Natural Resource Management Committees in both areas.
The O’Som crocodile site: Crocodiles were first formally discovered near O’Som commune in 2000
(Daltry and Chheang 2000). This site includes Veal Veng Marsh and the Koi and Krau Rivers nearby.
These wetlands are situated at 560m above sea level, about 100km upstream from the Gulf of
Thailand, and surrounded by evergreen forest.
O’Som commune was the first community in Cambodia to create a crocodile sanctuary, which covers
230 ha in Veal Veng Marsh, in addition to developing their own by-laws to protect crocodiles and
their habitats throughout commune lands.
The Areng River crocodile site: Situated approximately 100km upstream from the river mouth, the
Areng River site is encompassed by evergreen forest in a wide low lying sandy valley, up to 200m
above sea level. The water flows slowly throughout the dry season with a typical depth of less than
2m, but reaching to 7m in some areas. The river is typically 30-40m wide at this point, yet overflows
its banks during the peak of the wet season rains. Widespread flooding occurs during this time,
inundating the numerous riverside oxbow lakes.
Chum Noap commune, the nearest community to the crocodile site, has also established a crocodile
sanctuary and developed community rules to protect crocodiles and their river.
6
Elevation (m)
0 - 200
200 - 400
400 - 600
600 - 800
800 - 1000
1000 - 1200
1200 - 1400
1400 - 1600
1600 - 1800
Sea
#
N
Areng Site
Koh Kong
Province
Pursat Province
250000
250000
300000
300000
350000
350000
400000
400000
1200000
1200000
1250000
1250000
1300000
1300000
1350000
1350000
0 20 40 Kilometers
O'Som Site
Chhay Reap Site
Figure 1. Community crocodile warden sites in the Cardamom Mountains range, Cambodia
Community Crocodile Wardens
For the O’Som site, 10 wardens were selected in 2005 to patrol four specific areas within the
commune, including the community’s crocodile sanctuary in Veal Veng Marsh. At the time of writing,
the Areng site has four wardens who patrol two areas within the Areng River crocodile sanctuary.
7
Patrols are carried out by teams of two wardens, except in the Areng River, where one warden
patrolled by himself until a fourth was recruited in December 2006. Each warden works on a part-time
basis and receives at least $10 per month. Fees were negotiated through elected commune committees.
The community wardens received their first training classes in April 2005 (O’Som site) and January
2006 (Areng Site) to undertake a number of tasks to promote crocodile conservation within their
respective communities and crocodile sites. Training covered the use of global positioning systems
(GPS), map reading, documenting potential threats to crocodiles, and completing Patrol Forms. Their
patrols were not designed to survey for crocodiles, but rather to maintain a high profile presence
within the community and identify threats to crocodiles or habitats.
The wardens were visited regularly (usually monthly) by project staff from the Cambodian Crocodile
Conservation Programme to discuss their progress and address any problems.
Crocodile Warden Tasks
Both the O’Som and Areng residents have, over the past few years, undertaken Participatory Land Use
Planning (PLUP) to zone and manage their commune land. As part of these planning processes,
crocodile sanctuaries have been created, which are subject to special community management
regulations. Community wardens are required to report on and manage these crocodile sanctuaries, as
well as a wider community role of reporting general activities within their communities.
Wardens are required to perform a number of tasks within their patrol areas, including:
Reporting on the threats to crocodiles or their habitat.
Reporting on any significant developments within their local area, such as roads, hydro-
electric dams, plantations, forest clearing, logging, mining, illegal activities, etc.
Upholding community regulations within the two crocodile sanctuaries – Veal Veng Marsh
and Areng River [Veal Veng Marsh wardens are also required maintain the crocodile
sanctuary boundary by ensuring marker posts are always visible].
Liaising with local conservation rangers to uphold local or national regulations or laws.
Reporting on crocodiles or their tracks or dung seen during patrols.
Gathering information on crocodile stories from community members.
Obtaining information on community concerns and problems regarding crocodiles.
Disseminating crocodile awareness materials within their commune or village (e.g., t-shirts,
posters, commune crocodile sanctuary regulations or crocodile signboards)
Community wardens do not have the power to make arrests, but can report violations to the commune
chiefs, police, military police and/or government rangers in their commune or district. The rangers
have the power to enforce local regulations and national laws.
Patrol Areas and Reporting
Wardens are required to undertake patrols of designated areas between two and four times per month,
although in one area – Anlong L’Ang, on the Koi river near O’Som commune – patrolling is
conducted once every two months due to its isolated nature and the large distance involved (Table 1).
Reporting of patrol and community information is carried out once a month for each patrol area by
completing standardised Khmer language ‘Patrol Forms’ (see appendix I for an English language
8
version). The standard form allows all information to be reported in a consistent fashion, and helps the
wardens to report all of the information required. They are designed to keep writing to a minimum
because some of the wardens find writing difficult.
Table 1. Community crocodile wardens and patrol areas
Site
Name
Patrol
Area
Name
Home
village No. of
wardens Frequency of
patrolling Notes on patrol area
O’Som Veal Veng
Marsh Kien
Chung
Roak
4 4x/mth Includes Cambodia’s first
crocodile sanctuary, 230ha
O’Som Krau River O’Som 2 2x/mth Includes 9 km of river
O’Som Koi River Kandal 2 2x/mth Includes 9 km of river
O’Som Anlong
L’Ang Chay Luk 2 1x/2 mths More than 25km from village
Areng Ambot
Toit Chum
Noap 2 4x/mth Includes river and Cambodia’s
second crocodile sanctuary
Areng Ambot
Thom Prek Svay 1-2* 4x/mth Includes river and Cambodia’s
second crocodile sanctuary
* Only one warden until a second was recruited in December 2006.
Results
Crocodile Warden Patrols
Throughout 2006, 13-14 community crocodile wardens undertook patrols at the two most significant
Siamese crocodile sites in Cambodia: around O’Som and the Areng valley. These sites encompass six
villages in three communes, within the provinces of Koh Kong and Pursat.
O’Som Site: O’Som Commune, Pursat Province (see Figure 1). This site includes the Ta Jiruk (Veal
Veng Marsh) crocodile sanctuary and an additional three areas on the surrounding rivers. Ten wardens
are employed to patrol these four areas.
Areng Site: Thma Dom Pov and Chum Noap communes, Koh Kong Province (see Figure 1.). This
site includes reaches of the upper Areng River, including the Areng River crocodile sanctuary and
surrounding oxbow lakes. Four wardens are employed to patrol two areas within this site.
Crocodiles Seen
Crocodiles were seen during patrols in a number of the areas. Wardens in some areas, such as the Veal
Veng Marsh and the Areng River site, recorded crocodile sightings during most months. The total
number of different individuals seen during each month is difficult to determine because the same
crocodile may be observed multiple times, as each patrol month consists of up to four separate patrols
for each of the six areas. The figures in Table 2 should therefore be viewed as a rough indication of
general crocodile presence or visibility, rather than as measure of population size.
9
Table 2. Crocodile size classes observed in each month in different patrol areas.
Large crocodile = ***; Juvenile crocodile = **; Small crocodile = *
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
O’Som - Veal Veng *** *** ***
* 0 * - - *** **
O’Som – Krau 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 *** 0
O’Som – Koi 0 0 0 0 0 0 ** - 0
O’Som - L’Ang - - * - - 0 ** - **
Areng - Toit **
* **
* **
* ** ***
** ***
** 3x ***
**
Areng – Thom
***
* *** *** ***
***
** ***
** *** *** ***
**
Over time, this method could be the basis of a simple monitoring programme to detect significant
changes in crocodile numbers. There is however, likely to be some seasonal variation in crocodile
distribution and visibility, as suggested in the preceding table.
Crocodile Signs
Crocodile signs were identified mostly during the dry season (January to April), with different signs
being more easily recognised in different areas due to the substrate type (Table 2).
Table 3. Crocodile signs observed in each month in different patrol areas from January to September
2006.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
O’Som - Veal
Veng 0 2 tracks 1 dung 0 1 dung
1 track 0 - 0 0
O’Som - Krau 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 dung 0
O’Som - Koi 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
O’Som - L’Ang 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
Areng - Toit 2 tracks 1 track
1 dung 1 track 1 track 0 0 0
Areng - Thom 7 tracks 10
tracks 15
tracks 10
tracks 3 dung
3 tracks 1 track 2 tracks 5
tracks 5
tracks
Places
Month
Areas
Month
10
Identified Threats and Warden Response
A number of threats to crocodiles or their habitats were identified during 2006 patrols. Some of these
were minor infractions of commune regulations, such as buffalos walking through the crocodile
sanctuary, while other problems were criminal activities that may seriously impact upon the
waterways and crocodiles. The response to each depended on its severity (Table 4).
Table 4. Threats identified and responses by community crocodile wardens from January to
September, 2006.
Patrol Area Threat Response
O’Som – Veal Veng
(crocodile sanctuary)
Chamka (field) and
hut built.
Buffalos.
Net fishing.
Electro-fishing.
Inform CCPF rangers; hut removed, cultivation
stopped.
Chased buffalos from sanctuary.
Informed fishermen that fishing with nets is prohibited
in sanctuary.
Informed fishermen that electro-fishing is prohibited
O’Som – Krau
None
O’Som – Koi
Mreah proh
factories nearby
Hydro-electric dam
feasibility
assessment
Inform CCPF and PSWS rangers, enforcement patrols
undertaken, equipment destroyed, violators detained.
Continue to monitor.
O’Som – L’Ang
Mreah proh
factories nearby
Electrofishing/water
pump
Inform CCPF and PSWS rangers: enforcement patrols
undertaken, equipment destroyed, violators detained
Areng – Toit
None
Areng – Thom
Small fire seen None
Of particular concern to crocodiles, their habitats, and the community of O’Som, is an ongoing
assessment of this area for the construction of a hydro-power dam and reservoir. Crocodile wardens
from O’Som commune reported that hydrological, soil, and topographical studies were undertaken by
a Chinese company during 2006. The feasibility study was said to assess suitable locations for the
construction of a hydro-power reservoir. Permission for site exploration in the area has been granted
by the Government, but details remain unclear. Wardens are continuing to seek updates from the
hydro-dam assessment team.
Destruction of forest habitat, riparian habitat and pollution of the waterways by illegal mreah proh
factories in the O’Som area was also a big concern in 2006. Another problem associated with such
illegal activities was that the community wardens were often afraid to patrol in the affected areas due
to the presence of often armed groups. More than a dozen factories were raided by enforcement
agencies and closed down in response to reports provided by the O’Som community crocodile
wardens.
11
Visitors and Tourists
Wardens reported that 11 groups of outsiders, totalling more than 42 people, visited both sites to see
the crocodiles or to conduct studies. Most visits were conducted in the drier months (January to April)
when roads and bridges were still in good order and transport was easier to obtain. Wardens in the
Areng site also reported that the residents of Chum Noap commune conducted their annual fishing
ceremonies in two lakes during the months of February and March, with group sizes averaging nearly
50 people (Table 5).
Table 5. Visitors to patrol sites at O’Som and Areng.
Area Date Group size Origin Purpose
O’Som – Veal
Veng marsh 15 January 5 Krapeu Pi, Pursat
Province Looking
February 3 Phnom Penh,
foreigners Photographing crocodiles
and cardamoms
22 February 2 Krapeu Pi, Pursat
Province Looking
March 2 Pursat province Looking
April 3 Phnom Penh Students studying turtles
May 1 Pramaoy, Pursat Looking
June “Group” ?? To see crocodiles and learn
about them in Veal Veng
August 3 O’Som Commune police and
students
September
25 Veal Veng District Gather information on
O’Som crocodiles
Areng site 20 January 4 ? 1 foreigner, 3 khmer
21 February 51 Chum Noap Traditional fishing ceremony
8 March 57 Chum Noap Traditional fishing ceremony
11 March 35 Chum Noap Traditional fishing ceremony
21 March 9 Thma Bang General visit
March 10 Phnom Penh General visit
Community Liaison
Wardens from all areas held informal discussions regarding crocodiles and crocodile-related activities
with residents from their respective villages. They informed and reminded local residents of their
12
community regulations, canvassed residents regarding recent crocodile information, and distributed
awareness materials throughout their communities.
Community crocodile sanctuary regulations
Local residents were reminded of community regulations that pertain to the crocodile sanctuaries at
O’Som and Areng, which place some restrictions on activities within the sanctuaries, such as fishing
with nets and hooks. The wardens encouraged community members to follow these regulations, which
were formed through participatory process and had been agreed by the members.
In O’Som, 12 small information signs were placed throughout the commune in prominent buildings
and official offices such as schools, police station, guesthouses, the houses of commune and village
chiefs, and conservation offices. These signs depicted prohibited and acceptable activities within the
crocodile sanctuary in Veal Veng Marsh (the Ta Jaroek Crocodile Sanctuary). Two larger signs were
also erected by wardens at the crocodile sanctuary to inform residents of regulations within the
crocodile sanctuary.
Awareness materials
Wardens distributed t-shirts in Thma Dom Pov, Chum Noap and Pra Lay communes on the Areng
River to raise awareness of the crocodiles in the river and promote a sense of pride amongst
community members. They depict an Angkorian bas-relief crocodile, with the words (in Khmer
language): ‘Together we can protect the crocodile Arak Neak Ta’, the crocodile spirit of the area, and
also the words ‘Chum Noap commune, Thma Bang district’.
Community information and perception
Informal interviews were carried out by wardens with local residents to gather information on recent
crocodile sightings, problems and community perceptions.
O’Som: The wardens reported that most people knew about the regulations of the crocodile sanctuary
in Veal Veng, and there were no reports of crocodiles breaking people’s fishing nets (“because the
people no longer fish in areas where many crocodiles live”) in the sanctuary. Some residents reported
that the number of crocodiles at Anlong L’Ang had increased, but there were concerns that illegal
mreah proh factories would have a negative affect on the crocodiles and the waterways in the area.
Generally, the people were happy to have crocodiles in their commune and would keep them for future
generations.
Areng: Information collected by the wardens from fishermen during patrols indicated that crocodiles
are seen regularly during fishing trips on the Areng River. Both adult and juvenile crocodiles were
reported from various deeper parts of the Areng River and lakes. Fishermen only ever reported seeing
solitary crocodiles at a particular location, however, during their fishing trips. A resident of the upper
Areng River, from Chamna village, reported that a dog had been eaten by a crocodile while crossing
the river in September 2006. Nevertheless, residents generally appeared to be pleased that crocodiles
remain in the river.
13
Figure 2. Village elder of O’Som commune
with a sign for the Veal Veng crocodile
sanctuary. Crocodile wardens educate villagers
about rules of the crocodile sanctuary.
Figure 3. Chum Noap villagers with new
crocodile t-shirts. T-shirts were distributed by
the Areng crocodile wardens.
Figure 4. Illegal mreah proh distilling factories
found by crocodile wardens in O’Som
crocodile site. Numerous factories were closed
down by enforcement rangers in 2006, using
information gathered by the wardens.
Figure 5. Chum Noap villagers take part in an
annual fishing event in Areng River crocodile
site. This fishing event was monitored by the
crocodile wardens.
14
Discussion
Warden Performance and Achievements
Generally, wardens undertook their required tasks well, and have become well known throughout their
communities. An increase in crocodile awareness occurred within each community, with community
members willing to relate crocodile stories or sightings to wardens. The distribution of crocodile t-
shirts, posters and discussions of the community regulations has resulted in a general increase in
crocodile knowledge and awareness in these villages.
The community crocodile wardens in the O’Som and Areng River crocodile sites provided a wealth of
information through their monthly reports. They relate not only to crocodile or habitats, but also other
developments within their areas. The warden reports kept relevant authorities abreast of local
developments or problems within the community, allowing illegal activities to be halted before they
become a major concern.
The illegal activities included mreah proh factories (forest-based oil-extracting facilities) in the forests
around O’Som, which could have a serious and lasting negative affect on riverine habitats and
crocodiles, by causing excessive forest damage and polluting the waterways. Factory operators fell the
mreah proh trees and, after cutting other trees for fuel, distil the wood chips over large fires to produce
a valuable oil that is exported to Vietnam (from where it is re-exported to other countries for the
production of perfume or illegal drugs). Although factory operators commonly intimidate local
residents, the crocodile wardens were still able to reports these illegal activities to enforcement
agencies, which closed down the operations. The crocodile wardens are not enforcement rangers,
which may allow them to report illegal activities without fear of repercussion from factory operators.
Even though neither of these two pilot sites - O’Som and Areng - are advertised as tourist areas, many
people in surrounding areas know that crocodiles live here, and sometime come to see them or at least
take boat rides along the river. Wardens have recorded the numbers of visitors coming to these areas,
and found that people come from as far as Phnom Penh. The recent increase in visitor numbers
indicates that it may now be both necessary and profitable to manage tourists for the benefit of the
crocodiles and community. Options for managing tourists in O’Som and Areng should be discussed
with the local communities.
Numerous other wildlife were also reported in warden reports, with more specific information
obtained for such rarities as white-winged wood ducks, silvered langurs and otters.
Challenges and Constraints
With as many as 14 wardens patrolling six key areas of two crocodile sites throughout the year, there
were bound to be some areas of patrolling or reporting that could be improved upon.
The Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme team observed that wardens were sometimes
reluctant to report small problems or community regulation infractions caused by friends or family. It
could also be embarrassing for a junior warden to advise or confront an elder who disobeys the
community regulations. Intimidation from illegal factory operators also hampered patrols in the
15
Anlong L’Ang area of the O’Som site. Police or ranger enforcement support is clearly needed in these
situations.
At the height of the wet season, flooded rivers and marshes can make patrolling or access to patrol
areas difficult. In the case of the Veal Veng patrol area (O’Som site), the marsh floods a very large
area making patrolling impossible. At such times, however, wardens can focus on their community
awareness tasks instead of patrolling.
Community wardens are often poorly educated and undertake the patrolling in a part-time capacity.
There are sometimes family, farming or other commitments which can impede patrolling duties.
During the rice-growing season, some community wardens found it difficult to find enough time to
patrol, especially where the patrol areas were far from their houses. Because the wardens come from
poor rural communities, their part-time warden commitments cannot take precedence over growing
rice and supporting their families. During such busy times of the year, wardens also need to co-
ordinate with their warden partners, who are also heavily occupied with farming, thus making timely
patrols sometimes impossible. These factors must be accepted as constraints until and unless full-time
wardens are to be employed. All wardens will benefit from close and continued support from donor or
supporting agencies, with regular reporting and feedback given during village meeting.
Local Benefits of Wardens
Community crocodile wardens can bring a number of direct and indirect benefits to their community,
crocodiles and habitat. The financial support provided to community members helps their daily living
expenses, while the commune as a whole also receives some funding through its role in coordinating
warden patrols. The financial support is not excessive, however, to ensure this programme has greater
sustainability.
The general status of crocodiles in an area can be kept under surveillance through patrolling, and
specific threats identified. By keeping a constant presence on the ground in the most vulnerable
crocodile sites, the management of the area can be adapted to the prevailing circumstances, thus
providing better protection for crocodiles and their environment. In turn, by preserving a healthy
habitat around the community, other natural resources such as fish, non-timber forest products and
water can also be maintained for the benefit of all. The efforts to combat mreah proh factories near
O’Som, for example, are vital for preserving the wild cardamom spices that the villagers harvest every
year to sell.
The potential for tourists to provide an additional income for these communities is apparent in both
sites. Although such income may be modest initially, it will have the added benefit of providing extra
incentive for community members to protect wildlife and habitats. Any tourist management scheme
will need to be carefully considered and developed to ensure that any financial rewards benefit the
community as a whole, rather than specific individuals.
Chhay Reap Village: Another Potential Site for Community Wardens?
Description of site
Chhay Reap village is in Southwest Cambodia, on the southern section of the Cardamom Mountains
(Figure 1). The small village is approximately 100km upstream on the Sre Ambel river, and can be
16
accessed only by a rough track in the dry season or by boat during the wet season: a series of shallow
rock bars prohibits year-round access by boat. Travel from national road #48 to Chhay Reap takes a
full day in the wet season or half a day by motorbike in the dry season. This village is administered by
Dong Peng commune, Sre Ambel district, Koh Kong Province. After Pol Pot’s régime was ousted
from Phnom Penh in 1979, this became a Khmer Rouge stronghold which saw considerable fighting
between KR and government troops. After the integration of the KR troops into the government
military during 1997-98, many people returned or relocated to this area. This area is quite isolated and
was integrated into the Samling logging concession in 1994, which is administered by Forestry
Administration. Logging was halted in 1999.
The Sre Ambel River is a low lying river at less than 200m above sea level, with its headwaters in the
Elephant Mountain range. Numerous oxbow lakes are associated with this clear flowing river. The Sre
Ambel River and areas surrounding Chhay Reap village were identified as significant site for Siamese
crocodiles in 2003 (Daltry et al. 2003), with breeding reported from a number of areas. A nest was
examined in riverside oxbow lake in 2004 (Simpson and Han 2004), but reports were obtained of
crocodiles being captured and taken from this area in later years (Jelden et al. 2005, Simpson et al.
2006). The status and distribution of the Siamese crocodile in the Sre Ambel River in 2006 remains
unclear, although the previous reports indicate that this is still an important and very vulnerable site.
Appraisal methods and findings
A fieldtrip to Chhay Reap village and surrounding areas was undertaken from 6-12 August 2006,
during the wet season. Access to the village was by boat and was carried out by Forestry
Administration staff from the Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme.
Specific objects of the trip were to:
1. Gain information on the current and historical Siamese crocodile distribution.
2. Identify threats to wetland species including crocodiles.
3. Ascertain local perceptions towards crocodiles
4. Get the community’s view on establishing community wardens in the area
A rapid appraisal of the forest, rivers and local activities was also carried out during the trip (see Hor
and Sopheak 2006 for a more detailed report).
Discussions were held with community members, elders, village chiefs, government officials and
NGO workers to determine whether the site was suitable, and if they would be receptive to the idea of
establishing community wardens. Twenty informal interviews were carried out to obtain information
regarding crocodiles, including their current and historic status in the area and any threats they may
face.
Long-term residents of Chhay Reap village and the surrounding areas stated that crocodiles have been
a part of the wetlands for as long as they could remember, and had probably been present since ancient
times. They said that before the Pol Pot régime. the area had “many crocodiles”, but from 1987-1993
there was considerable crocodile hunting in the area and that numbers had decreased. More recently,
crocodiles have been seen by local residents in a number of areas along the Sre Ambel River, wetlands
and oxbow lakes. Most of the areas from which crocodiles have been reported are the deeper areas of
the river, with small or baby crocodiles being reported from as recently as 2005.
17
A number of threats to crocodiles and other wetland species were identified. They include the active
hunting of specific species and incidental catches during other activities. It is apparent that crocodiles
are still being caught and traded from the area, but the incidence now seems low. Accounts of recent
captures of wetland species include:
During 2005, baby crocodiles were caught on turtle hooks set in the water near Chhay Reap
village, and the young crocodiles were then sold on to middlemen for 50,000 Riel (US$ 12.50)
each.
During June 2006, fishermen from another province used illegal gillnets to catch baby
dragonfish (Scleropages formosus – an endangered species) for sale.
Fishermen from another province used chemical poisons to catch fish to sell in markets.
Recently a 40-50kg crocodile was caught for trade, but later released out of fear of being
caught by law enforcement agencies.
Despite the last comment, however, the Chhay Reap area is very remote and without a base for
wildlife enforcement agencies, so the enforcement of natural resources is poorly implemented.
Village-level protection groups have already been established by some of the elders of the area to
protect some wetland species, such as turtles, crocodiles and dragonfish, and specific wetland areas.
The success of these groups in protecting these areas and species seems to be mixed, however, being
less successful against powerful outside influences such as dragonfish catchers, who were operating in
the area in June 2006. Local fishermen who fished using illegal methods in 2006, however, were
caught and “called for good advice” by the village elders.
Patrols from NGO-supported government rangers pass through the area on patrol, and have had some
success in reducing wildlife trade in protected species, but provide little protection to the crocodiles’
habitats.
Future prospects
The Chhay Reap area has been part of a logging concession in the past, and has thus undergone a
degree of logging, with the removal of luxury and commercial tree species. The conversion of land for
agriculture has also had some affect on the forest cover in the area, although residents of Chhay Reap
still report that the area contains an abundance of wildlife including large mammals, birds and reptiles
(Hor and Sopheak 2006). The rich and diverse wildlife in this area was also verified by Daltry &
Traeholt (2003). Crocodiles were confirmed in this area in 2003 (Daltry et al. 2003), and despite some
crocodile hunting since that time, it seems from local reports that some crocodiles still survive.
The nest that was examined in 2004, and the reports of small crocodiles in 2005, suggest that
crocodiles may still breed in the Chhay Reap area. They have also been reported from a number of
areas, so it must be considered that crocodiles are widespread in the river, albeit at very low densities.
Further biological work is needed to verify their current status.
Although the Chhay Reap community does not have any resident rangers or police, it is to their credit
that they have established community guidelines to restrict fishing in certain areas and protect
crocodiles, turtles and fish. These community rules may not be adhered to by all local residents or
outsiders, but the intent of the community is well presented.
Based on this preliminary appraisal, it appears that the establishment of community wardens in Chhay
Reap could enhance the effectiveness of the community’s intent to protect its wetland species, while
18
helping to secure another key crocodile site in the Cardamom Mountains. The village chief welcomed
the proposed support of external aid to promote crocodile conservation within Chhay Reap and the
surrounding area. The Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme could support such community
wardens while providing education and awareness to the surrounding areas.
Given that the local residents of the area still report the presence of crocodiles, and their proven
willingness to undertake wetland protection, we believe that it is crucial that this opportunity is taken
to enhance and promote crocodile conservation within this community. Such support will not only be
beneficial to crocodiles and habitats, but will also directly benefit local wardens by providing
additional income. In addition to direct funding, wider support for the community could also be
provided in the form of agricultural, educational or other development assistance.
References
Bezuijen, M.R., Phothitay, C., Hedemark, M., & Chanrya, S. 2005. Preliminary status review of the
Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis Schneider, 1801) (Reptilia: Crocodylia) in the Lao
People’s Democratic Republic. Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (Government of
Lao PDR), Wildlife Conservation Society – Lao PDR Program & Mekong Wetlands
Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme, Vientiane.
Daltry, J.C. and D. Chheang, 2000. Reptiles. Pp. 99-110 In Cardamom Mountains Biodiversity Survey
2000 (Eds. J.C. Daltry and F. Momberg). Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge, UK.
Daltry, J.C., & Traeholt, C. (Compilers) 2003. Biodiversity Assessment of the Southern Cardamoms
and Botum-Sakor Peninsula. WildAid: Cambodia Program, and Department of Forestry and
Wildlife, Phnom Penh.
Daltry, J.C., Chheang D., Em P., Poeung M., Sam H., Sorn P., Tan T. & Simpson, B.K. 2003. Status of
the Siamese Crocodile in the Central Cardamom Mountains, Southwest Cambodia.
Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme: Fauna & Flora International: Cambodia
Programme, and Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Phnom Penh.
Daltry, J.C., Chheang D. & Nhek, R. 2004. A pilot project to integrate crocodile conservation and
livelihoods in Cambodia. Pp.290-301 In: Crocodiles. Proceedings of the 17th Working
Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Hor, L. & C. Sopheak. 2006. Report on the Establishment of Crocodile Wardens in Chhay Reap
Village, Koh Kong Province. Unpublished Report, Fauna & Flora International Cambodia
Programme.
IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (www.redlist.org). Accessed June 2006.
Jelden, D.C., Manolis, C.H., Giam, Thomson, J. & Lopez, A. 2005. Crocodile Conservation and
Management in Cambodia: A Review with Recommendations. Summary report of the IUCN-
SSC Crocodile Specialist Group review mission to Cambodia. IUCN-SSC Crocodile
Specialist Group.
19
Kurniata, H., Widodo, T. and Manolis, C. 2005. Surveys of Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
Habitat in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Indonesian Institute of Sciences
(LIPI) and Wildlife Management International, Cibinong.
Simpson, B.K. & S. Han, 2004. Siamese crocodile surveys in Cambodia. Pp.110-120 In: Crocodiles.
Proceedings of the 17th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group,
IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Simpson, B.K., Chheang, D. and Han, S. 2006. The status of the Siamese crocodile in Cambodia. In
Press. In: Crocodiles. Proceedings of the 17th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile
Specialist Group, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
20
Appendix I. Warden Report Form for Areng Site (English translation).
Crocodile Warden Report Form
Areng Site
- Month : ……………………………………………
- Report by : ……………………………………………
- Warden names : ……………………………………………
- Patrol Dates : ……………………………………………
Warden Patrols
I. Threats to Crocodiles and Habitat
A. Inside Sanctuary
A.1. Snares:
Explain if seen: 1. Type…………………………….......……………………….....
2. Where…..…………………………………………………………………………
3. When ……………………………… 4. How many…..............…….………......
5. Whose snare………………………......…………………….......………………...
………………………………………………………..…………………………….
What do you do when you see snare: (1. destroy, 2. report, 3. tell snare owner,
4. confiscate)
A.2. Fire in sanctuary:
1. Where ………………………………………………………………...………….
2. Size…………………………………….3.When………………....……………....
4. Reason…………………………………....……………..………......……....….…
A.3. Illegal fishing:
1. Where ………………………………………………………..…………………..
2. How many people………..……………... 3.When….…….........……………….
Type of illegal fishing: (1. nets, 2. hooks, 3. pump, 3. bomb, 4. electric, 5. poison)
A.4. Buffalo:
1. Where……………………………………………………………………………
2. When……………..……………….. 3. Whose………………………………….
4. How many………………………....
A.5. Building or camping:
1. Where………………………………………………………..…………………..
2. When…………..…………….……. 3. Who………...………………………….
4. How many people……...………………..
A.6. Logging / cutting trees:
1. Where……………………………………………………………………..……..
2. Name of people……..……………………………………………………..…….
3. How many trees cut……………………. 4. When………..…………………….
21
B. Outside Sanctuary
B.1. Snares:
Explain if seen: 1. Type………………………………………………..………...…
2. Where……………………………………………………………….…….……....
3. When……………………………………. 4. How many…………………..……
5. Whose snare………………………………………………………………………
What do you do when you see snare (1.destroy, 2. report, 3. tell snare owner, 4.
confiscate).
B.2. Fire in forest:
1. Where……………………………………………………………………………..
2. Size……………………………… 3. Reason………………………………….....
4. When……………………………...
B.3. Illegal fishing:
1.Where……………………………………………………………………………..
2. How many people……………………... 3. When…………………………….....
Type of illegal fishing:( 1. pump, 2. bomb, 3.electric, 4.poison)
B.4. logging / cutting trees in forest:
1. Where…………………………………………………………………………..
2. Name of people………………………………………………….……………..
3. How many trees cut……………………. 4. When…………………………….
II. Crocodile Information
A. Seen during patrol:
A.1.Crocodiles: 1.Where (UTM)……………………….……….……………………....
2. Date………............…….,3. How many……………………......…...…
4.Size (1. Adult, 2. Juvenile, 3. Baby)
A.2. Dung: 1. Where (UTM) ……………………………………...…………………...
2. How many dung (do not collect)……………………..………………..
A.3. Tracks: 1. Where (UTM)……………………………………..………………….....
2. How many…………………………………………………………..….
A4. Nests: 1. Where (UTM)…………………………………………………………...
2. How many……………………………………………………………...
B. Reports (crocodile information from some-one else):
B.1. Sighting or Sign (1. track, 2. dung, 3. slide, 4. nest):
1. Name……………………………. 2. Where………......…………………………
3. When……………………………..4. Size…………………………....................…
5. Reason………………………………..……...……………………………………
C. Report of crocodile catching or crocodile death:
1.Name…………………………………. 2.How many people…………………....
3.From where……………………………………………………………………....
4.How many crocs…………………….. 5. Size (1. Adult, 2. medium, 3. small)
1.Catching method used…………………………………………………………...
2.Catching for what purpose……………………………………………………...
3.How many caught…………………………… 4.What size……………………
5.Released back to river…………....……….… 6. Dead or Alive
22
III. Education and Other Information
A. Talk to local residents about regulations or awareness material distribution
which village did you visit…………………………………………………………….
B. Anyone interested in crocodiles: Yes No
Who: tourist, croc catcher, government official,
NGO people , police, foreigner, soldier, other
1.When………………......................... 2.How many people………………………….
2.Where………………...................................................................................................
C. Any complaints about crocodiles:
1.How many people………………………….. 2.Which village………………………...…
3.Why……………………………………………………………………………………….
4.Did you report to CCP: Yes, No,
5.When……………………………… . 6.Problem type…………………………………...
D. Development activity in commune, e.g., logging, hydro power, new road, other
Explain:……………………………………………………………………………….……
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
E. Any other wildlife seen during patrol:
1.What animal………………………………………. 2.Where…………………………..
3.When……………………………………...4. Sighting or Sign seen
IV. Other important information:
Explain:…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...…
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………………...
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
The 900 residents of O'Som Commune, Veal Veng District, share their land with at least 55 Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis), which they have traditionally revered for generations. Since peace came to Southwest Cambodia in 1998 however, the commune's extreme poverty and starvation, coupled with increasing access to outsiders, exposed the crocodiles to new dangers from poaching and habitat loss. The Forestry Administration, Fauna and Flora International, CEDAC (local NGO) and O'Som Commune leaders formed this project in 2001 to solve underlying problems facing both people and wildlife. Building on careful research and consultations, our activities have included the participatory development of a commune land use and natural resource management plan, in which the villagers notably agreed to protect all crocodiles and other wildlife on their land, and allocated >200 ha of Veal Veng Marsh as a crocodile sanctuary. Food production has been significantly increased in the designated agricultural zones, and new income-generating schemes are showing promise. The link between this much-needed livelihoods support and the crocodiles is being constantly reinforced, and independent sources confirm that the villagers are reciprocating by actively defending them from crocodile farm collectors. Lessons learned here are now being applied to other communities in Southwest Cambodia.
Preliminary status review of the Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis Schneider, 1801) (Reptilia: Crocodylia) in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (Government of Lao PDR)
  • M R Bezuijen
  • C Phothitay
  • M Hedemark
  • S Chanrya
Bezuijen, M.R., Phothitay, C., Hedemark, M., & Chanrya, S. 2005. Preliminary status review of the Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis Schneider, 1801) (Reptilia: Crocodylia) in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (Government of Lao PDR), Wildlife Conservation Society -Lao PDR Program & Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme, Vientiane.
  • J C Daltry
  • D Chheang
Daltry, J.C. and D. Chheang, 2000. Reptiles. Pp. 99-110 In Cardamom Mountains Biodiversity Survey 2000 (Eds. J.C. Daltry and F. Momberg). Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge, UK.
Compilers) 2003. Biodiversity Assessment of the Southern Cardamoms and Botum-Sakor Peninsula. WildAid: Cambodia Program, and Department of Forestry and Wildlife
  • J C Daltry
  • C Traeholt
Daltry, J.C., & Traeholt, C. (Compilers) 2003. Biodiversity Assessment of the Southern Cardamoms and Botum-Sakor Peninsula. WildAid: Cambodia Program, and Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Phnom Penh.
Report on the Establishment of Crocodile Wardens in Chhay Reap Village
  • L C Hor
  • Sopheak
Hor, L. & C. Sopheak. 2006. Report on the Establishment of Crocodile Wardens in Chhay Reap Village, Koh Kong Province. Unpublished Report, Fauna & Flora International Cambodia Programme.
Surveys of Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) Habitat in the Mahakam River
  • H Kurniata
  • T Widodo
  • C Manolis
Kurniata, H., Widodo, T. and Manolis, C. 2005. Surveys of Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) Habitat in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) and Wildlife Management International, Cibinong.
Siamese crocodile surveys in Cambodia
  • B K S Simpson
  • Han
Simpson, B.K. & S. Han, 2004. Siamese crocodile surveys in Cambodia. Pp.110-120 In: Crocodiles. Proceedings of the 17 th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
The status of the Siamese crocodile in Cambodia
  • B K Simpson
  • D Chheang
  • S Han
Simpson, B.K., Chheang, D. and Han, S. 2006. The status of the Siamese crocodile in Cambodia. In Press. In: Crocodiles. Proceedings of the 17 th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Sighting or Sign (1. track, 2. dung, 3. slide, 4. nest): @BULLET 1
  • B Reports
B. Reports (crocodile information from some-one else): B.1. Sighting or Sign (1. track, 2. dung, 3. slide, 4. nest): @BULLET 1. Name……………………………. 2. Where………......………………………… 3. When……………………………..4. Size…………………………....................… 5. Reason………………………………..……...……………………………………