Brandon

Siamese Crocodiles are listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and are currently one of the most under-studied species that was reported as “Extinct in the wild” in the year 1992. National Geographic's resident herpetologist Dr. Brady Barr, was filming in Cambodia when she coincidentally caught one on camera, this siting led to further exploration, which then confirmed that small numbers where still alive in the wild.

As human we play a large role in their struggle for survival. Once found throughout Southeast Asia, today it mainly occurs in Cambodia where there are no more than 5,000 individuals. One must understand that the increase of human population in their range has caused an increase in human disturbance within their environment. The disruption is caused by habitat degradation and the need to build more homes which has forced the species out of their natural habitat. Another form of habitat degradation is the proposed hydroelectric power dams that are scheduled to be built. This contraption will cause wetland loss and alter natural flooding and dry seasons causing the need for a dramatic adaptation to that change. Lastly, the implementation of such dams may be the reason for a loss of at least half of the species remaining population and a large amount of aquatic life in the years to come. Hydroelectric power dams have been know to be very detrimental causing many fatalities due to aquatic life being sucked into turbine blades. Reservoir water is usually more stagnant than normal river water. As a result, the reservoir will have higher than normal amounts of sediments and nutrients, which can cultivate an excess of algae and other aquatic weeds. These weeds can crowd out other river animal and plant-life, and they must be controlled through manual harvesting or by introducing fish that eat these plants.  In addition, water is lost through evaporation in dammed reservoirs at a much higher rate than in flowing rivers (www.ucsusa.org). The species has also been taken into alligator farms (which now house an estimated 700,000 in captivity) here they, breed and are raised for the purpose producing alligator meat and leather products.