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Crocodiles 

An Action Plan for their Conservation 

Compiled by 

John Thorbjarnarson 

Edited by 

Harry Messel, F. Wayne King, and James Perran Ross 

IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group 

JA4 

,P\

I UCN Speies Survlul Comh lsbn. A Globil Nr.r*ork for Sp(i6 Sn.vlvd 

Habirat and $enhing natnnl Esources aE under increasing presures everywheE lrm hmankind. SFcies, the &sic bioiic uik, aE consequen y 

inceasiryly drcdded wid crrincrion. To pmred ard mnseNc bidlivesny fl1n sp..i€s level ro.osy{em requires managfl.nt based onundc^bndin8 of 

ndjn$ biolqiel 

scicnccs, bor aLso tnoslcd8c of l@al culturcs, mvimmc.ul ccoonics, sd sovcmcnel $rudurcs and dy.mics. 

AnoB inEmario.al €spdses ro deal wnn rhis cdpl*nt is lne SF.ies Sufllval Cmntsid (SSC), a cdmissim of IUCIi-The Wodd C.nsedarion 

Urnd, Iou.dc! in 1949, the SSC network bas 4,000 voluke. nember sci6ti$, fieLd Ese.rched, sovcnnchbl ofiicirls. rnd msedrLio leade* in 155 

coud;es. Iney pnvide bchnial and scimdnc cdnselforbiodivenny @nseffarion pnjecb throushod the *o d, sMnB rs E.ourcr b Eo\ c mmcnh 

inrem3rnral.oventi@s, and cmscryalid o4aniaiims. 

ssc wo&s princinally $r@sh is nea y lm Speciali$ C.ouF,no$ of qhich repEsen p,nicular tlam oranimal srdps. SSC Sp.ciali$ Groups fmus 

on speci.s ei$€r tisrcned wi|h eitinctld o. of sp@ial lnpoedcc b hunm wclfarc. A fcw Boups aE dnciplinaiy vdciinary nedicine, optivc b@ding, 

Eintoduclds. inienational t.ade. od vildlfe utiliation. 

[ach rdmlmi srdp is cha4ed to r$e$ $e @nscryarim $arus of$e choscn spcies od denhabibb, to ddelop an Acdo. Plan lhar spccfics 

conseNarior prioritics, and finaUy b ponorc dc inplenenk.id of the EquiEd aclililies ddined ;n $e Plan. DcveloPins rn Adion Plan may bk. scvcel 

non$si rull imrlemcnbtion oI an &rion 4cnda ,nay sps dccadcs. ,^4ion Plans havc bccn cmplctcd by I4 Sp.ciali$ Coups. 

The Species Survival Cmnission is rhe laqen of sir voluEer cmnnsions of IUCN Thc World Cdscrano Union. Found&1 in 1943, rUCN enruDs 

sovcEisn {abs,sovemnenbl asencies, rsarch inslitlrions. and no sovcmmertslor8aniatios b @nsenc tbc soddt natunl heribse. Besides 

drycloping SoeBl consefl.lio. pot,cy, such * lhe world ConseraLion SLnt.sy,IUCN nrases cmserydion prcjeds sorld*ide, includin8 prcjc.t m 

loPcdl loreis, wedandsin.tue eosyiens, thesahel, and su{dnable ddel.pnenl 

For orc infomalion on the Soccics Suflivai Cmnnsid and IUCN-'De Wodd ConsepaLion Union, sntacr l0cN, Avenue du Monr Blanc, 

Cl I I 196 Cland, SwnE lmd. Tchpnoc (22)649 I l4r Telefax (22F42 926. 

Th h publislion s as producc! by IUC^"-lne Wo d Conseryation Union, in mllatirBtid *idr $e World Wide Iund for NaruE oVW!). and the IUC\'/ 

SSC Pctr So! Ac.ion Pl.n lud Nhich wrs csbblished by r Bdcous sih nm tnc Sule.aE oI Onan. 

O 192 lnbn.rioal 

Unid ror co.sesarion ot Nahrc and Natunl Rcsourccs 

ReFoductim oI L\is publication lor cdualimal ard o|Jr.inoo cmncrcialpuposcs is aulhorizd winou.Fmnsid 

sou{c r .ned and rhe .opyriaht holdcr Mcives a coPy ot $e reprcduccd maknal 

flrn rhc cq,yri8hr holdcr, troridcd rhc 

Itc[oductim for rcsrle or olljer tumnerci,l pu@ses i prohibited without pnorvnuen Fmissio 

or lne copyngh ho]dcr 

PublishcLl by iLlcl{. Gland,Svnk 

and 

Cor..photor Conmon dimaa, Cainan.n.ndilut, ia v$uud! (Photo bt R, Codshrlk).

Crocodiles 

An Action Plan for their Conservation 

Compiled by 

John Thorbjarnarson 

Edited by 

Harry Messel, F. Wayne King, and James Perran Ross 

IUCN/SS Crocodile Specialist Group 

g. 

wwr 

\M

Contents 

Executive Summary ......... 

Objectivesa Orgatrizrtion......... 

...........1 

Swaziland ............................................................ 

Tanzania .............................................................. 

Togo*.--*-*----..-......................................,.........3 

U9anda.............................................................. 

zdrc......................................................... 

Z€mbia.............................................................. 

Zimbabwe ............................................................ 

Introduction and CorMervation hio ties..............,,...,,..,,2 Asia..............-...-..-......-......................................... 

Consowation Programs: Geneml Considentions............7 Australia .................................-.----.----.........34 

Suslainable Yield Utilization Prograins ........................ l0 8angladesh........................................................ 

Species Specific Conservation Priorities....................... II 8hut n.........-.----.--.-........................................... 

Brunei .......-........................................................ 38 

Country Accounts ,.......,..,,.....................,.......,....,.,............ l3 Cambodia.......................................................... 

Infoduclion ......................................................................... 

l3 China................................................................ 

India.................................................................. 

Africa .............. --.-- -.--..................................................... 

l4 Indonesia.......-................................................... 

Al9eria..............--.---.-............................................... 

l4 ban,,..,,....,.....................-..............,,.....,...,........ 

Angola ....,,,..,----.-_-.-..,..,,........,,..,.,.....__..................14 l-aos.................................................................. 

Bonin..............................................................................14 

Malaysia............................................................ 

Bobwana ....................................................................... 

l5 Myanmar (Burma) .................................................... 

BurkinaFaso...............................................................16 

Nepal................................................................ 

Burundi .................................................... 

16 Pakistan............................................................ 

Cameroon ..,,...,,..,..,,...,,......,.........,..,..............,,..,,.........16 

Palau................................................................. 

CentralAfticanRepublic....... 

...............................17 Papua New Guinea ................... 

........-.. 

..........48 

Chad............................................................................... 

17 Philippines ............................................................ 

49 

Congo ............................................................................ 

l8 Singapore ............................................................. 50 

Equalorial Guinea.......................................................... 

l8 Solomon Islands ...................................................... 

Rhiopia.......................................................................... 

f9 Sri knka ............................................................. 

Egypt---...-.-...-..-.................-..................................... 

l9 Thailand .................................-.--.-..-.,--........51 

Gabon .............................................. 

...............l9 Vanuatu............................................................. 

Gambia ........................................... 

...............20 Vieham .............................................................,. 

Ghana.......................................................................20 

Guinea............................................................................21 

Norlh and South America............................................... 

GuineaBissau................................................................21 

fugentina ............................................................. 

Israe1..............................................................................21 

Belize ................................................................. 54 

Ivory Coast ....................................................................22 

Bolivia............................................................... 

Kenya.............................................................................22 

Br 2i1................................................................. 

Liberia........................................... 

-...............................23 Colombia ............................................................. 

Maalagascar............--................................... 

...........23 Cosl,aRica,,..,,,..,,..,..,....,,...,,.....,,...,,...,,...,......,, 

Malawi.....................................-.--...-...-......24Cuba...............................-................................. 

Mali................................. ...............................................24 Dominican Republic................................................ 

Mauritania,,..,,,..,,,,,..,,,.,,.,,,..,,,..,,...,,...,,..,,,,,,,,..,,...,,..,..,25 

Ecuador.-....-...................................................... 

Mozambiqu€ ..................................................................25 

EISaIvador......................................................... 

Namibia .........................................................................26 

Frcnch Guiana ...........-............-............................... 

Niger .................................................. 

......26 Guatemala..,,...,,..,,,.,,,,.....,,..,,,.....,,..,,,..,.......,,.. 

Nigeria ............................................ 

... .....26 

Guyana.............................................................. 

Republic of South Africa............................................... 27 Ilaiti ................................................................... 

Rwanda................-.---,...............................................27 

Honduras........................................................... 

Senegal .....................---...............................................28 

Jamaica .....................--...........-............................ 

Seychelles...................................................................28 

Mexico..,.,,,..,,...,,...----. .,...,,,..--..--,,,,,-,.,.67 

Siena kone........................... ................ 

.................28 Nicaragua.......,,..,,,...,...,,.....,,,...........,................ 

Somalia ........................................ 

.................29 Panama..,,...,,.,...,,...,,..,,,..,,,....,,,..,.......,...,,,..,,... 

Sud2n........................................ 

...................................29 

Paraguay............................................................

Peru................................................................................?0 

Gnoco crocodile (C/o.od|lus intengdius) ......................94 

Suriname......................... 

......-.---------.........72Australian freshwaler croc odtle (C ro c o dJ lu: j o hns o n, ......96 

Trinidad and Tobago ...................................................72 

Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus nindorcnsis\ ..,....,,..,......97 

UniredSrates..................................................................12 

Morelel's crocodile (CrorodJ I us norekA .........................98 

U.nguay -.---..-.,-.-..-................................................76 

Nile crocodile (Crr.od)/! s nilotict/s\ .................................99 

Venezuela,,..,..,,..,,,..,,.,,..,,...,....................,,,.,..,.............17 

Ncw Guinea crocodile (C/rcodtlus no taeguineae\..........101 

Mugger crocodile (Crocodrl us palustr is),,....................... lo2 

Speci€s Accounts ...........,.................................................... 79 Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosu:) ........................1M 

Inlroduction.........................................................................79 

Cuban crocodile (Cro.od)ltls fianbifer\,,..,....,.....,.......... 106 

American alligator (Ailr8ato. nississippien:is, ..................8OSiame,le 

crocodile (Croco dy I u^\ s iatn2 nsis) ....................... 108 

Chjnesealligator(All4arolrtrenrtr)..................................81 

Dwarf crocodile (Orrdoldenus /l-traspk\.......................... 109 

Common caiman (Cdilr.t, c rocodilus) ...............................82 Tomistoma (?omrrtona.r. hlegeli, ...................................110 

Broad-snouled caiman (Cainan bnrcstt^)........................85Ghai.al 

(Cavialis gongetic6)............................................111 

Y Acarc :n n (Cainan tac4rc)........................-................86 

Black caiman (M elatus uc h\s ni ge r, ...................................8 7 Appendic€s ..........,...,,...,......................,..,..............,.,..,..... 

114 

Dwatf c.ainJ;Jtr (P aleo s uc ht$ palpebro sus) ..........................89 1. List of contacts ...................................................... 

I 14 

Srnooth-fron(ed caiman (Paleos uc ht/l tr igonatus, ..............9O 2. Summary of Species Dal^......................................123 

American crocodile (C/rcodJl us ac ut us) ............................9 1 

Slender-snouted creodile (Crocodylus cataphrc.tus) .......93 References..........,.........,....,..,........,......,..,.......,....,,..,......,12

Foreword 

when the Crocodlle Specialist Group (CSG) convened its lst individual who would lhen insert the proposals that had becn 

Working Moeting in 1971, all 23 species of tho world's clocoalilians 

were endangcred, deplered, or declining in numbers' for review. Following its 1988 rne€ting (Ine' Papua New 

s[bmitted and circulate the complele document !o the membe 

Excessive exploitation was rampant, regulated harvest almost Guinea), the CSG rcceivcd funds from Mainland Holdings Ltd. 

non'existent, and illegal intemational tsade in crocodilian products 

was the rule. Some species were on tho very edge of world wildlife Fund-U.S.A., which enabled it to hire John 

Crocodrlo Farn, and matching funds from TRAFFIC U S A / 

extinchon, e.g., the Onnoco, Siamese, and Philippine crocodilcs,thegharial,andfieApaporisRivercaiman 

Thesiluation Uor program at the Univcrsity ofFloriala' U.S.A.' lo comple@ 

Thorbjamarson, a graduate student in lhe crocodile conservahas 

changed dmmatically in thc intervening m years. Today I I tho Action PIan. 

specics remain endangcred, seven species critically so' buliust John was assigned the task of producing an Action Plan 

u;derone-third (sevcn specjcc' ate abundant enough !o su5l,in composcd of thrce components: species accounts, country 

a regulaled harvest, and nearly a quarter (five species) have accounls,andabiogeogmphicoverview Hestanedthetaskin 

DoDulationsthatares6bleorinqoasing Muchof lhisimprovem;nt 

is directly altribuBblc 10 the myriad efforts of thc Croco' colervation ftom the CSG memb€rs and correspondentscat_ 

1989 by aSain requesting current proposals for qocodilian 

dile Specialist Group and its members scattered round lho tered round lhe world. He also drow together all ihe penincnl 

world. CSC membcrs worling for govemmen( agencies and scientific and conservation liloraturc on the statJs, management, 

biology, and Fade in crocodilians worldwide. Relevant 

non-govemmenlalorganizations OIGOS) wcredirecdvrespon' 

sible for dcveloping and implcmenting Foglams for the consorvadon 

and managgmcnl of lhe crocodilians of Ausralia' lnds' with sp€cial expenise in each rcgion or species. By April 1990' 

scclions were rcviewed by CSC Vice Chalrmen and members 

Indoncsia, Nepal,Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, he had produccd a second alrafi of the spc4ies and country 

South Africa, United Stalcs, Venczuela, and Zimbabwe. accounB which was avarlable for review by partrcipanls at fie 

Others have advised on Fograms in 37 other counlries around 1ofi working Meedng of6eCSG (Gainesvi[e,Florida,U.S A.). 

fic worlil. While thcse actions were bcing pursucd on the Ba-seal on commenls receivcd from wildlife biologists, ecologists, 

govemment agents, crocodilo farmers, hide buyers and 

national ftonls. members werc achvely involved with $e Con_ 

vention on Intcmational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild alealers, reptile skin tanners, and CITES EprcsenLltivcs at the 

Fauna and Flora (CITES), bolh ax members of national delegadons 

lo the CITES mcelings and as advisors !o thc CI]ES more information-rich draft was circulated lo the chatman' 

meeling, the draft was exlensively rewritten and a third' much 

Secrct riat on technical matters Through thcse effons, managemenl 

of crocodjlian populatrons for consc alionandsustain- 

l9m. Thir Aclion Plan is dle resull of thal final tevicw. 

deputy chairman, and executivo officer for rcvicw in October 

able ulilizalion has improved and illegal trade has decre3sed Having followed the produclion oflhis Acdon Plan hrough 

The conservalion slatus of crocodilians was so voladle that every stage, I can state that John now Dr' Thorbjamalson, 

the CSG had to come together in a Working Mceting every having in the interim completed his Ph.D. studics on "Thc 

se.ond ycar to asscss changes that had occurrecl and to set ncw Ecology and Behavior of fe Spechcled Caiman (Co,,'Id, 

priorilies foraction. Even so, much of what fte Group accomplished 

was thc resuh of opportunisuc underulings- Recogniz- 

il from dala gleaned from the scignlific litemlure and fmm 

cro.rd,r$) in the Central Venczuelan Llanos"-wrote mosl of 

ing thc need for a systematic approach, in 1976 at iK 3rd personal insight snd experience The rcmainder came as rnput 

Working Mccdng (Maningrida, Australia), lne CSG carablishcd 

an "Action Progamme" that focused on 10 specics, a stalcments presenied have been exlensively reviewed by vari- 

from CSG colleagucs and reviewers. Howcver' lhe policies and 

dozen nalions, thrco high'priority p.ojccls, and a half dozen ous mcmbers of the Group and representhe cunent position of 

lesserprojects. 

$o CSG on 6esc topics and priorities. This is $e Actjon Plan 

In 1978. the CSG prepared its first Action Plan for crocodilian 

conservalion, the Conprehe^si're Action Prcerumnz Jor hotessorsMesscI,King,and Dt.Rosstheedilor( Pholographs 

of the CS G. John Thorbjamarson is its wri@r and compiler and 

I he C o nset vation of C ro c odiler, as panof thc "Seas MustLive" came from various sources, primarily CSG members. 

campaign of IUCN/^fiwF. It containcd 18 projecls for ihe The Action Plan idendfies thc species which are most 

conse alion of cstuarine and insular sp€cies of crocodilians. endangered, lhe statcs with the least krcwn populadons, and thc 

Nonc of the projecls was cver funded as part of $e campaign' aclions thal ffe necded to conscrve various |axa and popula_ 

bu( four or five were undcrt2ken with outsidc funding. dons. n describcs in general terms what is known aboul the 

At iis 1984 (Camcas, Veflezuela) and 1986(Quilo'Ecuador) biology of lbc various species and programs that have been 

meetings, lhe CSG accepted lhe responsibility of producing a successful in reluming some populations !o abundance and in 

new Action Plan for the conservation of all crocodilians- managing lhem for sustainable use. fie Aclton Plan should 

Unfonunalely, relatively few proposals were scnt in, as volunleers 

who wcre busy fulfilling lhc responsibilities of &eir jobs CSG members and peoplc intercstcd in crccodilian conser- 

orove to be a useful tool in conserving crocodilians. 

back home found it difficult 0o write original proposals for vation canhelp us keep the Actlon Plan uPto-date by sending 

inclusion in the plan. To complele thc Action Plan in a comments on tie status, distribudon, and problems facing 

reasonable period of time i! would have to bc writaen by an various crocodilians 10 the Executive Officer, Crocodile

Specialist Group, Florida Museum of Natural Historr. 

Gainesville, FL J26tt, U.S.A. Thesecommen|l wilt helD;s 

revisr drc Actjon Plan fiom ti me ro d me. S uch Friodic revie ws 

will roveal both how the conservation sitllation has chansed and 

how fie Acdon Plan is bring used. Ir isour hope rhal;e ne.\r 

review finds the crocodilians ofevery country better knorrn and 

aI 23 species of crocodilians rctumed to abundance and none 

endangered, 

hofessor Harry Messel 

Chairman 

ruCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist croup 

Acknowledgments 

Professor F. wayne King' Deputy chairman of the rucN/ssc lion or co.rected earlier drafrs of the action plan. I grarefully 

crocodile sp€cialist Group (csc), provided the nnpeius for acknowledge lhe suppo(ofMainland Holdings Ltd. -rocodile 

this action plan, and bas be€n rireress in his suppon of fte Fann (papu;New duinea) ana rRArrrC u.s.A,/worrd 

pmject 

wild- 

since i(" inceprion at the 7$ csc working Meering in life Fund-u.s.A. for providing suppon during rhe prepa.ration 

camcas, venezuela in 1984. I wo'ld also like ro ftank ofthis document, an; wwF-;temat.nal and the rucN/ssc 

ProfessorKing,ProfessorHarryMessel,Chairmanofthccsc, Peter scott Action plan Fund (estrblished by a donation from 

and James Perran Ross, CSG Executive Officer, for rEviewing the Sultanatc ofOman) for su;poning publicarion. 

the aclion plan and correcting many mistakes, Any e.roN that 

rcmarn, noweve., arc my o\rn. ThankN also go ro the many John Thorbjamarson 

members of the Crocodile Sp€ciatist croup who sen! informa- ComDiler

Executive Surnmary 

This document descritres the conservation sBtus of th€ 23 

Table 1. Crltlcrlly €ndangered cro.odlllaN 8nd the 

species oflho Order Crocodylia found worldwide. Because of 

count.l€s wb€r€ theJ occur. Speclg sre Ust€d ln 

$e commercial value of their hides, crocodilians have been 

d€c.€ashg prlorlty order. Court l€s rre lbted 

hunted extensively throughoul de world's Fopical and subtropical 

regions for over a cenury. Overhunting, combined 

ln ord€r of hlghest prlorlty lor aclloD, 

with the morc rec€nt problem of habitat loss, has resulted in a 

Thlil.nd, Indonsia M&laysia 

number of species being pushed !o the brink of extircdon. 

cmbodia, Vi€rnam, L&s 

Conservation effons, conconEating on protection of animals 

and habitat, began in many countries in the 1960s and 1970s. 

Philippins 

Some countries have inilrated conservation proglams bas€d on 

the sustalnable-yield utilization (SYLD 

Chin. 

of non-endangered 

species, and in recent years lhe use of SYLI programs based 

on ranching or farming of crocodilians has increased 

Ilemendously. 

Thailu4 In lonesit, Malaysia 

Allhough considemble effon has gone into crocodilian conservalion 

over the last 30 years, it has tended to concentate on 

a rather small group of species. Litde or no rese€rch or Ghdial 

India, Nepal, Paljstan, 

conservation action has been carried out on many of tho most 

Bugladesh, Bhutaa Myamd 

endangered species of crocodihans. Of the 23 species considered 

in this action plan, elevcn of them are endangered. 

The seven most critical species in tcfms of ne€d for conservation 

are, in order of decrcasing priority: the Siamese crcco' . Training progIans to impmve national management exper' 

. Proleclion of crihcal habitats for wild populalions. 

dilc (Crocodtlus ridrr€nris), the Philippine crocodile tise for crocodrlians. 

(CrocadJLus mindotensis), l.he Chinese ^llig 6t (Alligator . Prevention of illegal hunting and illcgal trade. 

dn€rrir), rhe Cuban crc(.odile (CrocodJlus rhonbifer), rhe . Captrve breeding for gene pool proservation and rcstocking 

tomisrom (Tomistoia schlegelii), rhe Orinoco crocodile natural habitaB. 

(C r o c o dJl us in E r ncdi &t\, and tE Ehari3J (c av i al i s g a n g e I i c us). . Esrablishment of sustainable use pmgrarns to provide incentives 

for conservation of wild populations and habitats. 

Four other species arc endangered, the broad-snouted caiman 

(Cainan latircstis\, the bl^ck cainan (Melanasuck8 niger), 

In addition to applying these conservation actions 10 panicular 

endangered sp€cies, the actioo plan idendfies geographic 

the Amcrican crocodile (Crccodlus acutus'), altd Morclet's 

cr&odile (Clocadtlu: nwdl€rir. Bccause so litde is known 

regions wherc the status of crocodilians is so poorly lolown tlat 

about many of $eso spccics, emphasis is placed on conducting 

it is difficull to plan action. The most critical of these regions 

populadon surveys to quantify the current populadon sl,alus as 

a first slep towards initiating conservation prognms. 

Of the rcmaining species, nearly all are under hreat or have 1. West and central Africa (Angola, Bonin, Burkina Faso, 

dcpleted populations in some parts ofthei range, Scven sp€cies Caneroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial 

have populations ftat are suffrciently numerous and widespread 

lo support sustainable harvcst in some counEies where Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Siern Leone, 

Cuinea, Gambia, Chana, Cuinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, 

lhoy occur, although most of them still require protectlon and Togo, and zairo) 

carelul managemcnL The\e xe Allieator n;ssissippiensis 2. Sou6east Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, 

(American alligaior), C.o.odlllr Jbrlso/t (Ausiralian freshwater 

crocodilc), Cro codllus niloticus (Nile crocodile), 3. weslem Pacific islands (New Britain, New Hebrides, 

Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Vietnam) 

CracodlLus porostls (saltwarcr crocodile) C/ocodlirr Vanualo). Delailed quantitative surveys are roquired in 

no\)aeguineae (New Guinca crocor'lj,le), Cainnn crccodilur these countries as a preliminary slep 10 cons€rvation action. 

(common or spcctaclcd caim n\, and Cainnn Jacare (yacarc). Preliminary surveys in Palau and lho Solomon Islands have 

Thesc rre fie marn species in intemational trade, and conEol been compleled. 

and regulation of this trade, and resEiction of lrade to lho 

The action plan prcsents a general infoduction to the conscr' 

products of farms, ranches, and sustainable harvesl programs is 

vation of crocodilians, The overall siiuation of each species, 

necessary to ensure lhcir long-term survival. Significant illegal 

summarizing and compiling the counry information, is given 

trade occurs from Cenlral and Souft America (Cdir?a, 

in $e spe{ies accounLs. indicaring the immediate conservadon 

crocadilus, Cainran Jocarc) and in southeast Asia (C.rcodlirr 

problems and high priority projecls needed. The sl2tus ofeach 

porosus, Crocodylus nova€g,rirede, and othcr specios, including 

Eans-shipped Calrdn spp.). 

species for every country where it occurs is given in the counry 

accounts, Conlacts for each country and oach Fojecl are 

Priority actions for crocodilian conseFation are: 

indicated, with addresses in Appendix L Appendix II summaries 

the status of cach species in every country in which il 

. Surveys of poorly known species to assess dislnbution and 

sElus.

Objectives and Organization 

of the Action Plan 

The objectivcs of lhis action plan are 10: 

numerous difforent facets of a widesFead specie siluation inlo 

l. Summarize informalion on tho curenl stalus of wild a single measure of endangerment, and ihe relative Bnking of 

crocodilian populations; 

species varies according !o $e critcria used. Here wo havo 

2. Summarize infomation on the curfent management focused on the prio;lies for action based on the criteria wc havc 

proSiams; 

described. 

J. Pnoridze spccies in terms of Lhe necd for conservadon Information on population slahs and management programs 

was glcaned from published sources, unpublished re_ 

action; and 

4. Develop a list of priority conservalion projects for each ports, and by direct communications with CSG membcs and 

This action plan is organized into firee principal s€ctions: an 

InEoductory Ove iew chaptet Country Accounts, and Species 

Accounts, Tho raw information on lhe stalus ofcrocodilian 

populations. and currcnt management praclices is presented in 

lhe Country Accounts. The Species Accounls provide a bricf 

description of the natunl history ofeach species, a compilation 

of the information found in lhe Country Accounls, and a list of 

the priority projcct-s to adalress the cons€rvation needs of lhal 

species. Each species is evaluated on the availability of survey 

data, thc nc€d for population rccovery, and the polcntial for 

suslainable use managemenl Based on what we know about 

the status of wild populations, thc species are ranked into foor 

priorily conservation categories: highest, high, moderate. and 

low. Thc currert listings of each species indicated by the 

Convcnlion in Int€mational Tradc in Endangered Spe.ies 

(CITES) Appendix and by the currenl IUCN Red List 

(Groombridge 1982, IUCN 1990) are also given for comparison. 

Full cilation to all refercnces is given in Literalurc Cited, 

and Appendix 2 summarizes fte status informalion for each 

The priorities listed here (see Tablc 4, p. I I ) do not exacdy 

overlap the IUCN Red List ( t 990) designations, in part because 

this accounl is based on more recent informatton, and in part 

because of fie varied siluatrons of some spe.ies in differcnt 

parts of their rangc. It is cxtremely difficult lo inlcgalo the 

corespondents. The p.iority conservalion programs were 

Fojects recommendcd by CSC menben, eilher specifically 

for this action plan or as recommendations in published or 

unpublishedrepons, or were projects dcemed to be ofpanicular 

imporlance by the compiler and edilors. Nol all conservation 

r€commenalations could be incorporaled as specific projects; 

nther the inFnt was to addrcss the principal arcas of conservalion 

concem and outlinc, in a very broad scnse, what needs to 

be accomplished. These projecB ropresent an invcntory of 

conservalion ne€ds, and the delails of pmject personnel, budget, 

and timelables arc left for future elaboration, In each case, 

a list of people tclconBct for e3ch projecl, counry, or spe(ics 

is given. Full names and addresses of contacts are given in 

Appcndix l. 

The acdon plan follows King and Burke ( 1989) in re.ognizing 

23 crocodilian species, alftough where there is taxonomic 

confusion or rcvision in progress lhis is indicaled in $e Spccics 

Account. We have generally used the scientific binomial names 

for crocodilians ralher than common names. Thc scienlific 

naines arc unique, unambiguous, and inlemationally recognizcd, 

while each spccies has a plethom of common and 

colloquial names that can cause great confusion. We have 

insened common English nanes !o orient lhe lay rcader. A full 

revicw of nomenclature of crocodilians is givcn in King and 

Burke (1q89) and an exhauslive lis!n8 of common names in 

many languages is given in Dollinger(1981, 1985).

Introduction and Conservation 

Priorities 

Crocodilians (crocodiles, aligato.s, caimans, and gharials) are crocodilians arc very effective aquatic predab6. Although 

prominent and widespread occupants of tropical aquatic habitats. 

The Sroup is ancieni, wilh hundrcds of fossil forms and temtlemture within narrow limits by behavior, basking in the 

cro€odiles are reptiles, $ey can ofren mainrain their body 

three major mdiations. Crocodilians are implicated in positive sun rvhen cool, seeking shade when hot. They are meabolically 

effects in their environmonts as "keystone species" that maintain 

eaosyslem structure and function by theiraclivities. Thes€ on land, where dey walk on erect legs, and in the wator, where 

ellicien!, and have fast reflexes and effecdve locomolor ability 

include selective predation on lish sf€cies, recycling nuEients, thcy swim Iapidly, driven by lheir powerful tails. Crocodilians 

and maintenanc€ ofwet refugia in droughrs. Crocodilians have have complex behaviors including social interacrions, dominance 

hicrarchies, vocalization, coordiMtod feeding, and well- 

some unique aspects of natural history that create special 

challenges for theirconseNation. They are the larges!prcdalors developed matemal behavior. Females deposil from 10 ro over 

in their habiraB and can rhrcaten humans and deir livestock. 40 hard-shelled eggs inlo a ncst which is either a hole dug inlo 

Many species arc exploired for rheir valuablo skin, which lhe ground or a pile of vegetation garhered by the female. Most 

suppois an intemational trade woih ovcr U.S. p00 million females remain near $eir nest during incubation and may 

annually. They are also heavily impacred by habitai 1o6s and prolect it from predators. Upon hatching, vocalizations made 

pollution of aquatic habilats. l,oss of any crocodilian sp€cies by the hatchlings induce the fernale tio help $c hatchlings 

rcpresen$ a significant loss of biodiversity, economic potential, emerge, and she may even carry thg tiny babies to tho watcr in 

and ecosysr€m sabiliry. This acrion plan summarizes current hcr mouih. The hatchlings rcmain togelher near the mother for 

slatus and priorily actions ne€ded !o cons€rve crocodilians. scveral months, deriving prolection from her proximity. As 

The crocodilians are classified as belonging to three fafiilies liey gmw and become more widely dispersed and independenl, 

and eight genera (see Table 2). There is a wide diversity of size, a large numb€r of the offspring perish, some eaten by orher 

habitat, food prefcrence, reproducdve b€havior, and many crocodilians, The survivors grow and reach malurity after a 

o$er aspecls of biology among the 23 crocodilian species. period of 5'15 years, depending on dle spccies. Females 

However,all specie.s have dc following basic simildrities. AU generally grow more slowly and reach maturity a! a smaller size 

than males, rrho continue growing and usually exceed females 

in maximum size. Crocodilians can be long,lived in lho wild, 

and therc are records of particular individuals resident for 

Table 2. Classincatlon of Crocodlllans, afterKlng and 

decades at somc locations. Adult males of s€veral species emit 

Burk€ 1989. 

loud vocalizations in association with fhe breeding season. 

Delails of crocodilian biology as it pcnains ro thoir management 

and conseryation can be found in Webb et al. 1987. These 

biological characleristics give the potenrial of grEa! resiliency 

Fanily Alllgatorldae 

lo some crocodilian populations, enabling them to recover ftom 

GeNs Alligatot (ruc .lligatoN-2 specict 

population deplelion and susrain relatively high harvest rates. 

cairoz (caimas 3 specis) 

However, persistent killing of adulls can lcad to rapid populadon 

depletion, panicularly if combined with habira! loss. 

Meta@sachus (black caima 1 specict 

Pa&rra.l/s (dw&f cainm-2 sp€is) 

Crocodilians aie lhreatened by many human aclivides. 

Farnlly Craodylidae 

Commercial overexploiration and indiscriminaF killing have 

Subfmily Crccodylinae 

resulted in many species suffering drastic declines in nunbers 

aeNsCreodyl6 (tue crocodilcs 12 spei6) 

and, when combined with sevcrc habita! Io9s, have brough! 

orreala% (dwdf docodile 1 sFcies) 

severai spc.ies to the brink of extincrion. Amund $e world, 

subimily Tohisrominae 

AeNs Thinom (Ionbbfra-l 

conservation inlerest has led to 

species) 

the developmenl of a number of 

F:!nilJ Grvlalldae 

Ccnus Calialts (shdial I species) 

rccovery programs designed to improve the status of wild 

populations. A number of lhes€ progmms, such as lhe work on 

gharial in India and Nepal, have met wilh a de$e€ of success. 

Today. with lhe heightoned interesr in conservadon rhrough

Comnon clinan, Cairu' .'d.or'il!i, ltlcndinA n€st. M!nJ- n,t.dil_ 

ians fom n$t{ ofl hau.d olwgcurbn (Photo br R. codshalk). 

susLlinable'yicld managemenl, fi c numb.. of pe{)plc invol!cd 

in cfocodiUan conservation projccl5 has gfown rcmcndoLrsly. 

Tbe Crocodilc Spccialist Grcup, which suuted out lts a snrall 

groLprompo,.d nlncrtdll) oi.crcnL'1.. n,'q ."rlp i.c"ornc 

300 individuals wilh inlrrcsLr raoging Itom purc rcs&uch 1l] 

conmcrcial propagalion, l-annin8, 3nd tradc monitoring Dc 

spilc rhc hcighlened intcrcst in crocodilian conscrva!on, con 

scrvation priorilics halc nolpfeviously bceo establishcd iorall 

.pc.rei anJ popJlJl.on\. lhc priorrlr/rl.un uf .ron.c^rrion 

projccls is ofparlicular imporlancc now, givcn lhc rncrcasc 1o 

rcsources availablc lbr crocodilian conserlalion 

\Human Exploitation of Crocodilians 

c,.rodilians havebeen exploitcd by peoplc sincc |]me tmme_ 

;;Nasasourceof 

loodorlncdicinal producLs,or killcd wbcn 

vicwc{i\ls a $rca! 1|) dc lruman rcsidcnts or lheir livcstock 

Ho*.,.. il wr5 nor unul fic lqLh Jr,d l(r.\,.nrrr'rc. drrr 

u,- 50, Ji humin c\plorrJti 'n J ( ro' odr'.:,n wJ' t rcl(d l'\ 

-ommcrcnl J.'nrnd. P.rh.,f lhJl.r{cr.\nJr idnhrb.r d.l) 

comncrcially cxploitcd was lnc Ancnca]l alligator' Inrtiallv, 

rtr commcrcial rlilizalion ofalligalors was ba\cd on produc 

don ofoil lo E'c,,sc thc machincry ofst&m enginc\ a dcotton 

miIL rJo c; ani McNcase 1987). Hunting of alligak'rs lbr 

thcir hldcs was spofld.lc during ihe l9lh ccnturv hul dcmand lbr 

!lin' in.rcr ot J:lc]lli-aunng |}e I8lrr' "h' 

n ill - 'r'J Iid' 

Dru.l,,. l'\rrn; lJ hronr'r'lc ln lact th( u 1r" r l r l r'l ' 

" 

durin{ this Dcriod excccdcd 1'he production of allig lor skins 

and l;d b lilc importalion of skins irom Mexico 'nrl Ccrtal 

Amcrica (Slcvcnson 1901). prcsud:blv lrom C/{)"d) l! r d'!l&r 

^nd C. n1arcletii. Thc cx;loiladon pf alljgabrs and Ccnlrul 

Ancrican crcodilcs conlinucd drrought'ul thc carlv 201h ccn 

rury, and bcginning around 1910, com 'rLcrciii! hunung bega in 

northcrn Soulh Amcrica forOrinoco md Americdl c(rodilcs 

(Mcdcm 198 I , I 9il3). Whcn thcsc specics bocam ' nlrc duc lo 

o!e.cxtloitnlion. thc bulk ofdrc commcrcial hunling swr|.hcd 

!o fte less vrlLnble black c man during thc 19:10s. 

Some com mcrc ial h unting took phce in Aliicrin thc 1930s' 

and w idcspreld cradicalion progftns lirNilccrocodilcs werc 

also jmplcmenlcd in $c carly par!ofthis ccntury (Coll l96l)' 

I-ikcwLsc, hunting ol somc Asian crocodllcs look llacc ou'rng 

thc 1930s (WcsDrmano 1939. Hrngerwerf 1970). Ncvcrthcless, 

rhe cornmcrci exploilation of African and Asian crocodilinns 

did notbegin in cimcst until after the Second World 

war (Fuchs c! al. 1989). Hunting in thc Old world topics 

quickly be.amc ramprni and de.imatcd acccssible populations 

over vast ircas. Worldwide, lhc peak in crcodilian hid€ 

commcrccame in lhe lalc 1950s and early 1960s.rhen 5'10 

million hidcs a ye3r were in Eadc (King 1978, Inskipp and 

Wells 1979). 

Wjtl lhc depletion of wild populadons of thc "classic" 

c(rodilian sp€ries, lhc commercial reptilc lcalher industy 

lurned morc and more lowards fic exploilation of fte spcclacled 

and yacarc caimans (King 1978, Hemley and Caldwcll 

1986). Caman hadnot bcen previously ulilized commercially 

bccause of thc prcscnce of extensivc dermal ossificadons 

(oslcoderms) in Lhc vcnral scales, allowing the use ofonly a 

latcral llank of skin. During fie 1960s and 1970s, cairnan 

h nting bcramc increasingly widcspread. Today. fie world_ 

wide crocodiUan trxde, accounling for some 1.5 million skins 

perycar, iscomprisedprincipallyof caimanfrom Sou!hAmerica. 

Thehislory oilhe crocodilian lcalherindusEy has been one 

of exploilrlion oi the fesourcc for shorl-term cconomlc garn. 

'Ihc inLcnsive hunting prcssurc generaEd by lie demand for 

cr.rodjlian skins dccimated populalions wotldwidc, and in 

many areas commercially valuable spe.ics are only found al 

crilically low numbers. principally as a rcsult of past 

ovcrcxploiution. Whilc sonc sFcies bave rccoveredue !o 

effocriyc protc.tron. re.ovcry lor many specics has betn slow 

ornoncxistcnl, obviated by factor such as habitat dcstruclion, 

contin ucd comnrerc ial or non-commerc;al killing, or ecological 

factor such as interac !iorls wilh other more abundanl crocodilirns. 

Today. of dre 23 spccics of crocodilians, l7 have some or 

all of lhcir populations included on CITES Appendix I. The 

dcplction of cro{dlilian poprlalions represenb a siSnificanl 

loss of cconomic polcntial for l(ral comm unitrcs. For examplc, 

areccnt survcy in deSolomon Islands(Mcsscl and King 1990) 

(]roon;r.lc.th.r.hufing8l!zefinkh,Fouk€Co,Gre€nrtlle'SC, 

ri-s.A.1Phoro hr F.rY. Kins).

Bcginning in the 1970s, a more acrive approach !o crocodil, 

ian conservation was initiated in India. A nadonal commitmcnr 

was made 1() prcscrvc the ahree nativc spccies of crocodilians, 

and a program sct up jnvolving iho protccrion of habitat and a 

restocking campaign initiated. Crocodilian r€aring ccnters 

were esbblished around rhe counrry, siocked wilh oggs cot, 

lecrcd fiom wild nesls. Thc young were rearcd ar $ese centers 

unnl f}ley had rcached a size wherc they could bo relcased. This 

progam, inidally supporred by thc United Nalion's Food and 

Agriculture (hganization, has been an overall success, and a 

similrr projcct has since been cstablished in Ncpal for rhe 

endangered gharial. Restocking and reintroduction programs 

arc also now being iniriacd in orher counlrics (e.9., Venezuela). 

Howcvcr, in some counlrics (e.g., Papua New cuine3, 

Zimbabwc) a very different approach ro crocodilian conservation 

was bcing arempled as early as $e lale 1960s. This 

approach was bascd on $e exploitrlion of crocodilhns in a 

C(qtlnEmtg9 r, Crcc.dllut rall,, tr, Ilkr.pad4 Oriss., Indt.. ralional, or sustainable-yield, fash ion. Suslainable Yield Ulilization 

(SYID is defined as utilizalion ofa rcsource rhar meets 

C.oodilians sho{complex smial behrvln. Courting nry tnvotve 

rDaring {bI hal€t, losrural ch.n96, p6ltlo.ing, ,nd snout rubbing, the necds of rbe prcsenr wilhout compromising the abiliry of 

shosn hre (Phoro b] L.A.K. Stngh). 

fulurc gcncralions 

mc41 lhcir own needs, I! means usjng a 

r€so rcc at a rale within its capacily for renewal (IUCN 1990). 

ln thc con@xr oi crocodilian usc, SYU refers loexploitarion of 

revcaled tlatexccssivcexploitation inreccnt yedrs hal dcplctcd a crocodilian spccjes in a way tha! conrribulcs !o lhe conserva, 

crocodilcs to such a low lcvel fia! complerc proreclion lbr a tion of the sp€cics fid ill habiur in the wild. Insread of 

decadc or more is nc.cssary to al low population re.ovcry. If lhe managing a hrrvest based on short-lerm e.onomic gain. as had 

SolomoDs had bccn suneyed 15 ycars ago iimighr havc been been donc by the replile le3rhcr induslry, hawests were ptanncd 

possiblc to conservc lhecrcrodiles by dcvcloping susoinable to providc cconomic and consewadon bcnefjB in perpeluiry 

use ol thjs vrlu3ble resouR c s ilhour deplering ir. 

(sce b€low). The rcaliry of the siluadon in fte doveloping world 

is ft alw jldlife is compcting wili mankind forlimirc{rrcsources. 

Crocodilian Conservation Prograrns 

Dcnying wildlife acommercial value denies it lhc opporrunity 

Thc World Conservation Sraregy defincs 

locompete 

$ree spccific 

succcssfully wirh 

obje{- 

altcmalive hnd usepracrices sucl 

livcs for lhe conservarion of living resourccs: (t) 

aragriculrure(lvcbb 

10 maintajn 

loo0). Thckcy ingredicnl lorLhesuca.. 

essenlial ccologicdl processcs and life suppon systems, (2) 

oi qsLrinable-yrcld ulili,,arion,SYtt' programs 

to 

ies.6lfi 

prcscrvc genelic divcrsiry, and (3) io cnsure 

ccunomic 

fiar thc 

bcncfir. Lhat accruc 

utilization 

ro local peoplcsfrom t1.'.onrr_ 

of spc.ics and ecosyslcms 

varion 

is only donc 

ol wild popularion(. 

on a susrainablc 

B) 

basis 

mdkingcrocoditianstvatrrbtc 

0UCN 1980). Thc lasr rwo of lhese objc.lives 

economic rcsource, 

are of 

we arc 

direcr 

sffccrively broadenin&6s c6nstiiu 

concc.n 10 thc Crocodile Specirlisr croup, and broadlydetinc 

cncy fo. conservalion, 

rhe rwo briil rlpc\ oi (roaudi|an con\crvxlion 

Although 

ffo8rJm\ in 

fie use of sustainable-yietd manag(,menl for wildlife 

conscrvalion prcgrams 

eilcct worldwidc; rccovery programs dcsigned to rcduce 

is 

lhe 

loday a somewhfu conu.ovenrar 

thrcar of extincdon ro endangcrcd 

issue,lhcrc 

sprcies, and no doubrftal 

suslajnable 

when carcfully pLarocd and rmplc 

yicld utilization programs lhal 

mented, 

capiralizc on the e.onom 

1}cse pfograms 

ic value 

can be sDccessful.'Iie valuc of SyU 

ul cr(\ odilirn\ aj a mcrrns ut promo 

managcmcnl 

ng conscNa 

programs 

on. 

ljc, in rhe abitqAo provrd economrc 

A growing realizadon tha( many 

inccn|lrc\ forconscâriun 

crcodilians wcrc becomlng, 

or akeady wcrc, endangcrcd 

acrion. Ihe$, incenri\cs (ome on 

a numbcr 

spccics emergcd in 

of levels: 

the 1960s, 

Jnd tr.{s lir,rcrllcd ro thc atlcnliun of Lhe.. rcnlitiJ. ommunily 1- National level. Thc export.sf crocodilian Droducls is often 

byCott(1961). The wortdwidcconcem for rhc conservarion of an impurhnr sourcc of i6r6;gn exchangc, e.rc{iJ y for 

crocoditians wds rcflcc1&l in lhe crerlion of thc Crocodile ocveroprng-counlnes{r,ing to /8 L Thi\pro! jdcsc{onomic 

Snecirli.t Lirout ot IUC\'. SIle.rcs Srr!rvrl Comri,von In rncenrvcs ror governmcnts to enforce &e rcgulations rc, 

1971. Conservation cfforA wcrc unde.lalcn by a hosr of galdinE utilipr.:Jir cftc{!ivety. Thc protj(r tuncrioninS ol 

countrics worldwidc during thc 1960s dnd carly t970s (Co[ rhc SYU progran" i\ al,o In rhc bcsi iniercsl ot Lhe lo.3l 

and Pooley 1972). Mosr cooscraaiion programs a1 rhis rjme repulc leaths. i,i.lusuf' and can lead ro thc formarion ot 

cenlercd on lhe p$sage oflegislalion p.ohibiting fiekilling of ccoperadves or associarions (har provide a sclf,tolicing 

crocodilians, or the crcalion of prolc.lcd areas for wildlife lunction and repon illegal aclivitics. 

conscrvadon. However, oulside of ft c more developc{i couiltries, 

wbcrc [inancia] aod institutiooalrcsou.ces wcrc adequatc thc cconomic valuc ofcrocodilirns is an imporbnr incen 

2. l,andowncrs. Whcn SyU programs involvc privatc lands, 

to cnforce rhe lcgr(l ion. lew of rhere (onsc^:r'ion proC.ai. livc for landowners !o prolc{jt rhcir residcnl cnrcodilian 

playcd any major rolc in lhe conscrvation of croco,.lilians- populalons and weltand habilrls_

3. Lcal residenLs. The cconomic value of crocodilians is an 

important tool b modify local pattems of human utilization 

of the cro(odilian rcsource. An effectivc SYU program can 

channcl ulilization away from activilies considcrcd harmful 

lo rhc populations (e.g., hundng of breeding animals, ncst 

robbing for consumprion oflhceggs), toones ftalpromoB 

sust.1inable ulilizalion (c.g., egg or hatchling col lccdon for 

ranching). 

Cropping Programs 

The model programs in Papua Ncw Guinea, Australia, 

Zimbabwe, and the Unitcd Shtes have all laken an inlcgrated 

approach lo crocodilian conservadon thal has rclied extensively 

on commcrcial utilization. Alt-bough the programs in $cse 

countries are very different (se€ descnpdons in the country 

accounts). thsc zuc a number ofcon mon dcnominators: (1)fie 

presence of a populadon monitoring program, (2) a res€arch 

componen! providing details on the life hislory of thc sp€cies 

involvcd. and (3) adequalenforcrmenl capabililies. Today, 

susutnrble-yield managcmcnt progrurns are in opcrrtiun or arc 

being planned in a large numb€r of countrics worldwide 

(Luxmoore c! al. 1985). Susfainable-yield managcment programs 

vrry sidcly. hur $o\e lhat resull rn dirc.l con.ervalion 

bcncrrts mry be claj{lred inlo t$o pnncrpdl l)per: Ltopping 

and ranching. 

Cropping is the direct harvesting ofcommercial-sized animals 

from the wild. Cropping bas Eadilionally been the systcm uscd 

for hancst of animals for their hides, and bc.ausc 0re tecb' 

niques ate oftcn id€ntical !o thc ones used for subsistcncc 

hunring, rhis lypc of managcment tiequendy bas lhc mosl 

cullural rclcvancc lo indigenous peoples,an important conservrlion 

consideration. Addidonrlly, cropping provdcs dirccr th€ vcnc,urur llanG (Photo by r',w. Kins). 

Dennk D.vld l.spectsdry srllod calmrnneatfrom lhes,ld hlrrdt In 

economic benefils to local peoplc involvcd in the hanes!. 

Ho\\'ever, crcpping may involvc fie harvesting ofsomc brcsj 

ing'sizcd animals, so from a management poinl of vicw crop 

ping pfograns are usually dislouraged. Neverthclcss, among lhc $cclacled caiman in Venczucla). Cropping program s have 

ccrtrin small species, successful cropping programs have been also bccn dcvclopcd in the Uniled Stacs (whcrchcalfty alligadesigncd 

bascd on a harvcst ofonly the largcst adult malcs (e.g., 1or populalions cxisl), and croppiDg slill forms thc largcsl 

componcn!of drcprogram in PapuaNew Guinc! and Indoncsia 

(whc.e sizc limir rcsbrctrons apply). 

Croadile e8gs ar€carcfuUt Pack.d for trrnsp.rt Io .cnlral incubalor 

fa.iliricsrtthcfarm, InP3praNcw(;uinq.ah€n's€g8lnd2cash 

rc*ad2rc given 10 locrl villlgcFfdct€ry c..ddjlcegg.dl.ct d 

Rrnching Programs 

Ranching is a modiiicd cropping program involving ft c captivc 

rcaring of crocodilians collcctcd from the wild as cggs or 

juvcnilcs. ln captiviLy, lhc animals are reared 1o a commcrcial 

sizc (usually l-2 m), dcpcnding on hc spc.ies and tlemarket 

bcing supplied), slaughlercd, and $c skins and mea! sold 

commcrcially- Belausc cggs and juveniles have a vcry hiSh 

nalural monality rar, removing them from |hc wild has less 

impaclon the wild populalion fian docs lhe removal of brccd' 

ing sizcd individ urls. The effccts ol a rancbing program on $e 

slalus of \rild populations cm be fur$er amclionlcd by l,Ilan' 

daring tha!accaain fraction oflhe slaughtcr sized anilnals be 

rcLurned back to thc wild (c.g., Louisiana s dlligxloranching 

program). ln rcccnl yedrs, lie ficld ofcrocodilian husbandry 

has growD t.emcndously inanefion l,]maximizegrowlh rlles 

and minimizc morlrlity. Ranching maintrins a dirccl link

facilities and cosls of mainlaining and fecding breeding animals 

and tho younS bcing reared for commercial Foduction. 

N€e Gulna ..@tlllel CeodJ&r rou.arn .., .t Mdrlrnd Holdlngs 

Ptt, Ltd., L.., Prpu N.r Gulno. Snc.€s{nl slsLlnrble u$ rcqulr6 

rdequ.te sw€ys oalh. Flld popul.llm,..plr.lL.tlm, rnd htrshndrt 

tachnlque (Photo br B,Vcrnd), 

b€(weon lhe heallh of wild populations and the abilily to obiain 

rcaring sbck. By paying local p€ople for thc collcction of 

young crocodiles (e.g., Papua New Guinea) ranching also links 

crocodilian consorvalion wilh widcsprcad economic benefits. 

However, ranching progams based on the collection of cggs 

from tho wild are more difficult to link dte.tly !o economic 

benefits for rural communirics. Thc collecrion of eggs from 

ncsts is a delicate matter and if not done propcrly, results in the 

death of ahc embryo. For this reason, egg-harvest ranching 

progmms (e.9., Zimbabwe) are t)?ically done by ranch penonnel, 

limiting lho potcntial dircct benefits to local communilies. 

Farming, which refers [o thc closed,cycle breeding of crocodilians 

in captiviry. is another form of crocodilian urilization. 

Adult breeding dnimals are mainlaincd in captivily, eggs laid by 

fie capdve females arc collcctcd ard incubated anificially, and 

the young arc rcarcd to slaughtering size. The breeding of 

animals in captivity. and husbandry techniques l.hat maximize 

growth rates, have reccivcd considerable attention a$ociaFd 

wifi the gmwlh ofth€ crocodilian fanning industry. Farming 

offcrs a numb€r of advanlagcs from a commercial shndpoint, 

including the ability to exploit CITES Appendix I spccics (see 

I np I e iE ntat io n of s u s tai M b ]c y i e ld nana I ene nt,lrloit). Also. 

farming permits more manipulation of tho stock ppulalion. 

Selective brceding can bc donc !o improve the genetic qualily 

of lhe offsp.ing. Furtlrcrmorc, bc.ause eggs can be collected 

carly during the incubation Brriod, incubalion iechniques can 

be applied !o control the sex of thc offspring (by conEolling 

temperalure). 

However, because farming isolalcs the management tiom 

be wild populations, these t)'pes of programs usually havc no 

direct conservadon b€nefits. At worst.lhc collection ofanimals 

from the wild to slock farms rcsults in a drain on wild populalions 

(Hunon 1989a, King elal. 1990, Kjng and Cenab 1990). 

Farrning can be used to the bencfit of wild crocodilian populalions 

if thc farms are requircd 10 relms€ a cortain fracdon of thc 

produclion back inlo thc wild (e.g., in Colombia), bul this still 

do€s noi foslcr lhc important economic dependcncc on the 

maintenance of heal&y wild populations. Farming also requircs 

a large investment 

the construction ol lhc physical 

Implementation of Sustainable Yield 

Management Programs 

The developmenl of commercial uiilization progmms must 

comply wirh thc laws of the counFy whero the activity is t€ing 

undertal(en, Thc nalional management audrorities rcgulale the 

dcvclopmcnt of SYU Fojects. However, most SYU programs 

involvo inlcmadonal tsade in raw skins, tanned hides, or products 

manufacturcd from the hides. This intemational aade is 

impacted by CITES, lhc Convcntion on Intemational Tmde in 

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES regulations, 

with certain exceptions, only pcrmit commercial rrade for 

spccics listcd in Appendi\ II. Species listed in lhe more 

restrictive App€ndix I are not allowed to be Eaded prirnarily for 

commercd purposcs. 

However, commercial tmdc ofAppendix I species is permitted 

from farms. Undcr thc CITES Anicle VII.4 (as subsoquently 

clarificd in Rcs. Conf. 2.12), App€ndix I species 

propagated in captivity are lcatcd under rhe provisions of 

Appcndix II (subject ro certification by &e nunagement authority 

of lhe counlry whcrc the propagation wai coducted, Anicle 

VII.s). The first commercial farm for an Appendix I speciss 

must also be approved by a full vote of tie CITES Parties. 

Olhcr plans involving $e inlernational trade of commercially 

exploited sp€cies requirc that the species in question bc 

lislcd in Appendix lI, and for crocodilians this includes all 

nnching and cropping programs. Species involved in rhese 

programs can bc divided inlo two categories, those that werc 

never listed on Appcndix | (Cainan crccodilus, Crocodlus 

novoeguineae,a C. joh^rdnr, and species thar were lis@d on 

App€ndix I and subsequenlly tsansfened to Appendix II either 

for the enlirc srf'cles (AlLigator rirsissr;a/ienrir) or on a 

counlry-by-counEy basis (Crocodylus niloricus, C, porosus). 

Sincc 1976, the addition of species l,o Appndix I and tho 

tmnsfcr of spccics from Appendix I to Appendix II have been 

pursuant io CITES regulations rcfeftd ro as the "Beme Crileria" 

Skhnlng srltFlt€r craodllG durln8. gove.nnentdmonshltoh nd 

rrrhiry(our$ ror vlll.gcE q tte S.pl* Rlyer, PtPu. N€w Guh.., 

Slze llmlrs sntrol hrrvEr o, $4td c.Ndlt€s l. PTur N€ycrtN.

(Res. Cont 1.1 and 1.2). This requires rhar Foposals by though the development of SYu proje.ts is of considerablc 

produccr nations to have their populations of Appendix I importance for a numb€r of crocoidilians, and will take on an 

crocodilians transferred to App€ndix lI bo bas€d on scienrific increasingly larger role in years to come, significandy more 

evidenc€ fiar the populations can suslain commercial utilizarion, emphasis needs !o be placed now oo the imDlemenhrion of 

including results of surveys indicating population recovery. Tho recovcry prograrns for the truly endangered crocodilians for 

only Appendix I populations dut were transfened !o Appendix II which commercial utilization is nor an immediaie option and 

under Res. Coni 1.2 wert thos{ oI A igaktr mi$itsippiensi! for some never will be. 

(Jnitcd Stales) and Crd.rdlupolo.rl{r (Australja). 

Thc implementation of SYU prognms for Euly enalangered 

Many countries found it difficult ro meei ihe requiftments of splecies, such as lhe Orinoco crocodile, would be viewed as a 

the Beme Criteria, and since 1976 two CITES resolulions have risky venture on econornic grounds because oflhe unlikelihood 

b€en passed facililating the Eansfer of Appendix I species |o of d|eir approval by the CITES Parties. From a conscrvation 

App€ndix II. The first penained !o nations wilh devcloping or vie\r?oint, the riskofprograrn abuses lesding !o overexploitation 

exisling SYU conse.vation prograns based on mnching (Rcs. far outweigh the poiential benefits rha! would accrue from such 

Conf. 3. l5). In order to qualify foran Appendix II classificalion prognms at present. For these species, the first stop is to 

under Res. Conf. 3. 15, the nation's management aurhoriry was implement management programs based on prote.tion and 

requircd lio submit a proposal describing tho pmgram and nalural or assisrcd population recovery, Once rsovery is 

showing how i[ would have frsitive conservation bcnefits for underway lhen lhe managemeni prognm could be amcnded tcr 

wild populations. In praclice this has requir€d tho country !o , incorporate SYU. 

have a well-develof,ed management prograrn in placo. Today, Of fie 9l papers dlat have becn published in $e Prcceedings 

countries where populations were lransferred to App€ndix II oflhe 9th and 10dr CSG meetings, a conservativ estimare of48 

under Res- Conf. 3.15 arc Botswana, Malawi, Mozimbique, (53%) deal dnecdy wilh opcmting or planned SYU programs, 

Zambia, and Zimbabwe (C. nilrdcm). 

whereas only l0 (11%) concem one of the seven mosr gndangcrcd 

crocodilians (see b€low). Much ofthe funding thar has 

In 1985, anotheresolution (Res. Conf. 5.21) was passed 

allowing the temporary lransfcr of a population to Appendix II been available in Ecent yeais for crocodilian conservation hal 

under an annual quola system. The rcsolution was based on the comc ftom the reptile leather industry and has been used 

Iisling of cenain laxa in Appendix I "rhar either never met the principally to fund surveys or help implement maragement 

Beme Criteria for inclusion or havo rccovered since their programs oriented towards SYLI. Considembl effo( has gone 

inclusion," but for which rccovery cannot be shown bec:lusc into survey work for species such as CrccadJlur niloticus, 

sl-alus was not determined when included in lhe appendix. This CrocodJlus porost.s, Cainan crccodilus, utd Coittun tacarc, 

rcsolution was adopted as a temporary mechanism forcoun! ies whereas specie such as ?o mistonu sc hlegelii and Oocodylus 

to begin SYU programs while developing protosals for full .lidn4nJ/Jremain vinually unknown. At present only minimal 

transfer 10 Appendix II via Res. Conf. 1.2 or Rcs. Conf. 3.15. funding has been available for conservation projects p€rraining 

Quolas undcr Res. Conf. 5.21 were originally designed ro have to the sevon spccics mosr in need. The funding that has been 

a lime limia of four years, but in practice this limir has been available for work wilh t}lesc sprccies has come primarily from 

extended for a number of countries, Nadons that presendy intemadonal conservation organizations such as World Wildlife 

Fund-U.S., the World Wide Fund for Nature-International, 

(1991) havc Res. Cont 5.21 quotas include Elhiopia, Kenya, 

Madagascar, Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania (C.,ildticnr), and and Wildlife Conservadon Intemational (New Yo* Zoological 

Indonesia (C. prrorrs). 

Socicty). 

The informalion compiled in this acrion plan has permiued 

Sustainable Yield Utilization Projects versus an evaluation of the lop species in lerms of conservation 

Non-commercial Recovery Programs: Setting priority. The seven sp€cies given the hiShesl priority are (in 

Priorities 

order of descending pnority). CrocodJlus siawnsis, C. 

The principal goal 

mindore^sis, Aqigotar 

of the SSC Aclion Plans 

sinensis, CrocodJlus rhonbifet, 

is to sp€cify rhe 

Tomistona schlcqelii, 

actions needed to ensure that threalenod 

Crocodrlus intenudius, afi Gayialis 

spccies suavive as s€lfsustaining 

memb€rs 

gangelicrs . Ah]€r secli,on summarizes thc conservadon problcms 

facing each of these species, lists 

of their ecosyslems. As has bccn described 

in the previous sections, two very 

some sprccifi conserva, 

differcn! approaches to 

tion acdons, and oudines 

crocodilian cons€rvation are in 

some general considcralions for the 

evidencc today, those fiat use 

commcrcial inccntives 

dcvclopmcnt and implementation of recovery programs. 

fid those that do not. The commcrcial 

baris of sustainable yicld ulilization prog'ams provides a powcrful 

lool for cons€rvation. but is not equally applicable ro all Conservation Programs: General 

species. Thedevelopmentof successful conservation programs 

Considerations 

basei on SYU requires the prescncc of a eries of checks and 

balances which togelher ensure thal the utilization does not Thc main Drust of this acdon plan addressesp€cies specific 

exce€d sustainable levels. This. in tum. necessitales fiai ihe conservation problcms. However, there arc broader questions 

program regulatrons can b€ adequalely enforccd. Furthermore, that must also b€ address€d that perhin to many, ifnot all, offie 

lo be acceptable to CITES rcgulations, SYU ranching and drearened species. These include issues such as training 

cropping prograns involving Appendix I specics mustdcmon, programs, scientific research, and habirat protection, but also 

strate a clear conservation b€nefit to wild DoDulalions. Al involve specific points which may require policy decisions

Drntc Videz (ldt) md Andr6 S€t.s (rlgl0 reord tl€ld d.r. on .n 

Anerlen Faodlle hat hllnS' Cru.dr&t a.!lrt, In V€neueh (Pho.o 

byF,w,Klng). 

Surveys are necded not only for planning re.overy pro_ 

grans, but also as the lrst step in thc development of sYfl 

progmms a.s well. In recent years. funallng fof the latter has been 

forihcoming from anumber of sources, and has resulted in good 

survey informalion from a number ofcountrtes, Neveiheless, 

for some species with high SYU potential and large Seogaphi 

cal ranges, population stalus stlll remains virtually unknown 

ovcr large areas. The classic example of this is the Nile 

crocodile. DespiF a large amouflt of information on crocodile 

status in casl and soufiem Africa, over the entire species rdnge 

the quality of survey dala is rat€d Very Poor (Table 3) because 

virtually nothing is known aboul its shurs in wesa and cental 

Aftrca. Much of $e information available for east Africa has 

come through de development of SYU programs that include 

initial population censusing and population monibring. Tho 

lack of such programs ill west and central Aftica appezus to be 

a rcsult of a numbcr of factors including diminished inslilutional 

capacity, a limited Eadition in wildlife research and 

(e.g., captrve bre€ding outside lhe spe.ics' range). This sectlon 

provides a bnef ovcrview of some of lhese areas of concem. 

The purpose here is not !o cxamine thesc issucs exhaustively, 

and no a11emp! has becn made here to lisl specific projecls or nl 

prioridzc items. 

Need for More SuNey Work 

ft will be{olne apparcnt from the information presenbd in this 

action plan that population survcys are urgendy ncedcd for a 

largc pcrcenrige o[ (hc spccies. DespiF Lhc tncreare in crocodilian 

conscrvahon Fograms worldwide, good ot adcquate 

population survey informalion is only available for five of the 

23 spccies (Table 3). although for some spccics, such as 

Crocodtlus palosus ^rtd C. llilolic!.r, excellent survcy data is 

available for isolatcd countries or pans thcreof. 

ln gcographical terms, two arcas are paflicularly notablc for 

the lack of in iormalion on the stalus of wild crocodilian popu' 

lations; west and ccnual Africa, and southeast Asia and the 

Indo-Malaysian archipelago. Tbis iscvidentin Table 3 by thc 

poor quality of dAtA on Crccodrlus siamensis. Tomisto n 

schle gelii. Ctocodtlus polofllj (southe€st Asia and thc Indo- 

Malaysian Archipelago), ^nd. CrccadyLus cataphractu: and 

Osteolaemus tetlaspis(west and ccntial Africa). Survcy dala 

arc lacking j. many arcas in Soudr and Central Amcrica and the 

Caribbcan, bu1 not to $e extcnl that they are 'n ftcsc rcgions ol 

thc old world. 

Ctdotlrl6 intetrediw 

Ct@odrlBturcletii 

High Priority SurveJ Proj€cts: 

PalexrchaniqaMtB 

t. S1a1us surveys in wesl and centrdl Africa: Angola, Benin. Pdleoskh6 pabebtosB 

B urkina Faso, Cameroon, Ccnlral African Republic, Chad, Mela@suchus fiBer 

Equalorial Cuinca, Gambia,Ghana,Guinca,Guinea-Bissau, 

Libcria, Mali, Mauntrnia. Niger, Nigeria. Senegat, Sicrra 

l-eone, Togo, and Zatre. 

2. Status survcys in southeast Asia: Bangladesh, Bhulan. 

Cambodia, Chioa, taos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Buma), 

creodrlu' 

Crcodyl6 

nindo/eais 

@roeEuirede 

Thailand, and Viclnam. 

Atl iE dat îss issipp ic Bis 

3. Staius survcys in the west Paciiic region: Philippines, Ct@odtt6joh8oni 

Indonesia, Vanualu. and fteoudying islandsof PapuaNew 

Guinca o.Iew Britain, Ncw Hcbrides). 

Table l. Classiflcatlon of ocodllad sPecl€s !(o.dlDg io 

the quality of populatlon Furvey d!t! 8tlllable 

Infomatlon sumtnarlzed from the Specl€s 

CtdorlrlB 

siMnns 

Crcodrl6.ataptunt6 

Osteotaenus tenBpis 

Ct@odrl&t pdfusttis 

CtEo.l!!6 nilotic6 

c.aodr!6 rhMbifel 

Taîsto@ schleselii 

CavialLt ga geticB 

Cteo.Iyl6 potosB 

Caimn.tto.lil6 

Cr@odrl6 acuus 

EDB[sh CoBmon Name 

Slender snonied crocodile 

Broad rnotrrcd €aimd 

Smooth'ftonEd caimh 

New Guhe&co@dilc

nanagemenr, and the fact thal crocodiles generajly inhabit a 

more fo.ested habiat and may narurally be more crypric and 

oacur at lower densities. Similarly, with estuarine crocodiles 

good survey informarion has been forthcoming fiom counFies 

widr SYu pmgams and Eaditions in wildlifo re.search and 

management (e.9., AusEalia andPapuaNew cuinea), and other 

nations with an active intorcst in wildlife consenauon te.g., 

India, Sri Ianka), but very littte informarion is available 

The situarion is considerably worse for many of rhe endan_ 

gered sp€cies for which no current SYU poteniial oxists. The 

lack of funding for survey or other work on these spccies has 

beon a major hurdle in developing coNewation prognms. 

Financial suppdt from intemational organizations has be€n 

forthcoming, bul conservation dollars ale being strerched very 

thin by the immensity of the lhre3b facing globat biodiversity. 

Suppo( of non-SYU survey and consorvation programs by the 

rcptile leather indusEy need not be viewed as purely alEuisdc, 

but nther as an investrnen! in rhe future. The goal of non_SyLI 

conscrvarron progmms is !o esrzblish viable ropularions and 

minimize the threat of exrinction for that sfrcies or Fpuladon. 

Once the crileda of a recov€red population have been met. 

consideration could be given to initiating Syu programs. 

However, grea! care must be taken lo avoid the pitfall ofdirecrly 

linking financial suppon ofa non-Syu program !o rhe evenlual 

implenentation of SYU managemenr. 

Habitat protectior 

Hz|.lillng Cwd!tut a.rtlt d,th ndlo-trrcktng Drctoge, Ev6gt,.teq 

Flol&, U.S-A. Cotlnu€d tong.rem .esoich on An.rton craod G 

ls nedcd (Phoro br R.Codshdk), 

Training Programs 

The development and implementation of effecdve nanagemenl 

programs in developing countdcs will dopend ro a large 

Commercial overexploitarion was rhe principal reason for th€ extent on the qualiry ofrhe human resources avaitable. Training 

d€clinc of most crocodilian poputations in rhe pasl However, courses arc needed on two levcls, the training ofprofcssionals 

loday $e burgeoning human population and devctopment of who will iate leadership roles in developing and adminisrering 

lhe world's mpical regions has resulred in habihl destruction management progmms, and training a! the technical level for 

or modification playing an incnasingly imporrant role. How thosc involved in rhe field implomenbtion of rlE programs. 

well we protect wedand habirarr will io a large exrenl determrne Thc CSc can play an imporranr role in providing faining 

the succcss of future conservation work with crocodilians and through one of sevqal ways: 

olher aquatic or semi-aquaric spe.ies. The developmenr of 

SYU prograrns will provide important 

l 

incentives 

Supporting research/managemcnr 

ro 

fellowships 

Drorecr 

wherc parricipants 

visir 

crocodilian h3bilal However, areas aiso nced Lo be 

and 

ser asldc 

work in eslablished crocodilian res$rcly' 

where consumpriv exploiralion does not 

managemcnt progmms 

occur. Esrbtishmenr 

lbr a period of time. 

of national parks and marine reserves is of particutar 

2. Helping 

imI,oF 

to find financial supplort for studenb from developrng 

natons 

lance (Kakadu National Park in Australia for examDlei 

to attend 

rhis 

univcrsiries ourside of rheir counrries. 

world Herilage sie con|ains rle bcst C. pr.ornr 

3. Offering inlemarional 

h;b,Er in 

training courses where invilcd professionals 

Australia). This wil bc of pa{icular imporrance for 

from 

lhc Euly 

devcloping countries lcam current researcv 

endangered species where SYU prograrns 

management 

arc nor an 

|eahniques. 

opdon a1 

presenL However, merely declaring an aroa to b€ protcated 

4. Supporting in-counfy training courses offered by nationals, 

poten(ially 

does not necessarily provide conservalion benefiB. Due 

wilh 

!o 

the involvement of intemational 

infras6ucture and funding limitalions, enforccmen! of protecrive 

regulations isvinually impossible inmanyareasanJalarsc 

membcrs of the CSG communiry. 

Foponion ofofficially prorected areas 

Scientific Research 

rfiroughouthe developing 

$odd is slill subjecr lo intense human e\plojbtion I;- The CSC is composed ofa large number of individuals. many 

creased resolve is nccessary to proiect fiese arcas, and this of whom are biologisrs or wildlife managers and ro whom rhe 

requires intemational suppon. New and innovative aDDroachcs imporonce of scientific reserrch for the design and implemeniation 

of managementprograms is wellknown, Basic research 

ruch as de bt. for-naturc swapscan ptay an imponanr;;te in lhis 

rcspect. Whcrever possible the negadvc impacrs of local on the habitat use, reproducrivc ecology, and popdation dynamics 

has l€fn incorpomrd into rhc design ot mfiagemcnl 

human populationshould be ameliorared by implemenling 

environmental educalion programs and./or non-consumpli!eprograms 

worldwide. Alrhough many of rhe problems irnpacr. 

wildlifc udlization such as eco-tourism. 

ing crocodilian conservarion are cconomic, political, or sociat

Skhnfne fim.nfsed .fffgttoF, AUiE lu rittktiPpi.$tt, tt Gtro' 

Junare drtgrtd fam, Florldr, us.A, (Ptoto bt F.W. Klng). 

The interbreeding ofcrocodiles (C,'o.odyl!r sp.) is not uncommon 

in captivity. In zoos and fa.ms around the world known 

in nature, thc suppon of conservatton programs must be based 

on sound scientific informalion, and this requircs continued hybrids have includcd a.d usx rho,nbifer,acutusx interntedit/s ' 

polosus x sioiznsis,andrhonbifet x siate^sis (Honegger and 

Nations implemenling or planning managemont programs' Hunr 1990). Hybrids are reportcd to be superior for farming and 

cspecially lhose interestcd in SYU, should be strongly urged by ranching bccause thcy grow faster, have higher survival mtos' 

the CSG !o develop paralel research pmgrams. Moniloring and produce largcr clutch sizes. The hybridization of C. 

programs are mosl cfficiently desiSned within the ftamework of porosus a.|,d C . sionensd has be€n actively undenaken al the 

an overall research program implemented 10 study the effec6 of Samutpratan fafm in Thailand. 

harvesling on wild popula[ons- Becauso research funds arc UnconEolled inte6re€ding may rcsult in the genetic loss of 

usually in shon supply, the prcferled me6od of fundrng these particular species. In rhe past this was a concem for C. 

progams has usually be€n direcdy from the plocecds of the rhonbd?r ootxms,nCuba, and presenlly il remains aconcem 

SYU program. This ensurcs that as lonS a5 the rvild resource is for C . siangnsis. Hybridization for commercial purposes also 

being unlized, funds will bc available for nonitoring and raises concems rcgarding how products originating from these 

research. However, in order to guamntee thal research program 

s arc not unduly pressured by adminisEative concems' thc izatlon of spccies has no conseFatlon benefit whatsoever. 

animals,xould b€ classified under CITES. Clearly the hybrid- 

two branches of the progmms should relain as much aulonomy 

as possible. Bccause crocodilians are such long-lived animrls, 

particular attention ncods to be givcn 10 the establishment of 

Sustainable Yield Utilization Programs 

long-term ecological sludies. Some research pmjects havc 

bccn underway for 10-15 or more years (e.g, Louisitui and Broadening the mnservation constituency. One of fte key 

Florida. U.S.A.i Nodhem Tenitories, AusFalia) and continue elemenls for the success of SYU management progmms will be 

10 yicld imporlant informadon on populalion dynanics. As paa rhe degee ,o which they incorporate local p€ople (McNeely 

of long tcnn population monitoring programs, key ecological 1990)- Although crocodilian SYU plograJns can have conservalion 

benefits, programs differ in their ability to providc local 

data sho ld also be collocted for the analvsis of crocodilian 

populalion ecology. 

economic incentives, For instance, closed-cycle farming oP 

cmtlons only provide economic benefits !o the local communily 

Commercial Breeding ofSpecies Outside of in the form of iobs for those who work on the fann Ranching, 

Their Natural Range 

on the other hand, can benefil a much larger speclrum of thc 

local populace and provide a grea@r economic tie to lhe 

Wifi lhe interest in commercial farming of crocodilian pro' 

cons€nation of wildpopulations. TheCSG mustbecognizant 

grams quickly becoming worldwide, fie propagadon of spe.ies 

ourside of theft natural rangc is becoming a polential conscrva_ 

don fircal. Two potenlial problems arc cnvisioned First is the 

escape and subscquent ertablishment of breeding populations 

ofexotrc crocodilians. To date only onc introduction has been 

linkcd to the escape from a farm (C, rn relelii on L\c '#esl coast 

of Mexico). However, lhe inroduction o[ cxotic species can 

havo potentially dire effects on native crocodilians, and lhc 

suggestion lhat introduccd Ca,rn& played a role in the extrrpation 

of CrocodJlus fiomby'e,' from the l,anier Swarnp is an 

indicatron of lhis. 

The second conccm regarding the breeding of exotic species 

rs the Dolential elfect il $ould havcondevelopingconservadon 

programs based oo SYU. For instance, lhe recent impoiation 

of CrocodJlus nilotic s by ^ commercial farm in Blazil 

fl-uxmoore 1990) comes at a time when SYU ranching programs 

aro being develop€d for Cainan latirostris and C. 

'dcare. The commercial breeding of Nile crocodiles *ould be 

superior from an economic sEndpoint, but would reduce ihe 

economic incontives for developing consorvation-oriented 

ranching Fograns. However, not all breeding ofexotic sp€cies 

has negative conservation implications. Captive br€eding by 

zoos is a good example. The Crocodile Specialist Group has 

recommended that cmcodlltan species should not be used for 

commercial faming operations outsiale thet historical range 

where thosc opentions are located within lhe range of o&er 

nalive specics of crocodilians. 

Commerciat Hybridization of Species 

of the relative conservation values of different SYU prognms 

and wherc possible promote those that offer the greatest 

conservation benefits, 

Reduce profftability of illegal trrd€. One of lho geatest 

impedimcn!s !o the successful operation oflegal SYU progmms 

is the continued pres€nce of a large illegal tmde in skins 

worldwide. In some inslances illegal fado is promoted by the 

exislcnce of a legal market which incre&s€s demand for skins. 

10

Species-specifi c Conservation Priorities 

Illegal skins arc either imported by unscrupulous deatcrs in 

counEieswhere CITES customsconrolsare lal or noncrisLent, 

or are passed off as legal skins wirh falsified documenrs. The 

CSG is doing much !o make itlegal rrade more difficult. By Highest Priority Species 

working with producer and consumcr nations and emphasizing Of thc 23 exranr species 

ftebenefiLsofdeairngonly 

of crocodiljans 

widr 

recognized in 

de incr€asing quan!i 

this 

ry of leSal action plan, seven arc placed 

h idcs, 

in 

lhe marker 

fie highest priority 

for illegaj sk ins 

category 

can 

for 

be reducfd or shur otf. To need ofconservation 

reduce importation 

action 

of iltegal skins inro 

Clables I and 4), basedon the siatus 

CITES member narions ofwild popularions. Theso 

two approaches 

species have beoo 

are ne€ded: 

rankeal relarive 

the improvemen! 

ro 

of forensic tech_ one another based 

niques permining 

on the perceived soverity 

lhe accura@identifi 

of the rhreat facing 

carion of species/subqc_ each q)ecies, and current 

cios 

conservation 

and their disseminarion 

effo(s underway. 

!o cusroms 

Of 

agen6; and lhc imDlemenalion 

of srandardized 

these seven specics, conscrvation programs hav€ been initialad 

lagging lechniques lo permir rhe for six, rhat is all, except for 

marking 

tho Siameso 

of skins 

crocodile. 

through 

Crocod|/lJ 

the ranning, and possibly even lhe (irn?rrj(. However. 

manufacluring 

ot tfiese sb( 

stage (e.g., 

species. uuly 

Jelden 1990). 

effective 

conservarion programs havc only bcen established for the 

Long-term economic imptications of SyU programs. The Ehuial, Gaialis gangeticlr. Only a brief discussion of ihe 

increasing reliance on SyU management programs will seven highesr prioriry 

8rearly 

spccies is given here. AII 23 spe{ies are 

ncrease $e availability of crocodilian products on the world lrcated in more detail in hc Sp€{ies Accounls. 

narket. The long-term cconomic implicarions of lhe increased Included in rhis section is a lisr of the mo$ rm[ortant 

availability of skins is unclear, but could have imporllnr conso_ cons€rvation p.ojecLs for each of the srven highqsl prioriry 

quenccs for the future ofcons€rvarion programs based on S yU. spccies. These aro rhe highest priority projects of tho acrion 

Economic studies of rhe current crocodilian hide marker aimed plan and are presenred in more derail in the appropdare Species 

at forccasting futuro trends could be a valuable tool forDlanninp Accounls. Because information on the shtus ofwild DoDula_ 

the future direcrions of SYU programs. 

rions is Oe firsts!cp !owaJds devetopingeffecrjve managemcnr 

progmms, suveys are emphasized for most of the species. 

Table 4. ClasslflcatloD of crocodfiaD spetes accordhq to 

tte need lor coDservation acrion. 

Prlority 

Highest 

Ctxotltlg sittuEis 

Ctqodtl6 mindbrcBis Philippines 

CtqodJILr rhMbifq 

Tonistofu schtegelii 

Ct@adtl6 ihretrudius 

Gaeidli ga^getics 

High 

Mela@suchus nigel 

Ctaodyl6 cataph'actus 

Ctead!lB acutus 

Wesr dd Centd Afiica 

Crdodyl6 palusi7is 

CtdadllB potosB soulh6t Asia dd Peific 

Siam€se crocodile (Crucodyus sianensis). The Siarnose 

cmcodile was, until recently, known from only one small 

Fpulation in rho wild in Thailand, bur no recent sightings have 

beenmadc. The possibility exists thar wild populadons remain 

in eastem Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, or Vieoam, but no 

surveys have been conducled in rhese areas. A srnall population 

was repoded in Kalimantan, Indonesia, dufing a .eccnr survey. 

This stecics is threarened by habi€r desrruction, and possibly 

by hide hunting. No mfiagemenr programs have been estab_ 

lished for fiis spccies. A large captivo population exists in a 

crocodile farm in Bangkok, bur inlerheeding with C. polorl./s 

is b€ing encouraged by the proprielor_ Captive breeding is atso 

being carried oul at a number of zoos in the United SEtes and 

High Priority Conservation projccb: 

1. Slatus surveys in Thai land, I-aos, Cambodia, Vieham, and 

Myanmar (Burma). 

2. Status surveys in the crcarer Sunda Islanals Ondonesia). 

L Ensure rhc presence ota slock of pure a. riaz"adr at lhe 

Samutprakan crcodile farm in Bangkok. 

4. Proteclion ofhabirar in Thailand. 

Cr@obt6turetetii 

Ctxotlr16 nitoticus 

Ct@o.lrlw rcedeSlireae 

Osteoldenus tet.6pis 

ct@oqt6ioh6ani 

A iSatot ni's is sipp ie4is 

P dleosach us tt igonatts 

Palexuh6 palpabr66 

Wesr dd Cenrral Aftica 

South dd Cenrar Americ& 

Philippine crocodife (Cro coitJtus mindorcnsisr. "lhis specjcs 

is knoqn Lo persist in only a few areas in rhe phitippine 

archipelago, whero it is being rfueatcned by habihr loss and 

indiscriminale killing. No effecrive Foleclion exists in rhe 

wild, and theonlyconservation atpres€ntconsistsof two small_ 

scale captivc bre€ding effo(s in fie philippines and one in lhe 

United Statcs. 

High hiorily Cons€rvarion projectsj 

l SupponforfieSi imanUnivcrsityandcFl-patawanbreedmg 

program in the philippines.

C.Dtlve-bred Ortnao.raodf Ll C|o.dttut hL6t'li!t' tr'rela'n 

hr; ft€ C.no Gu.rltld N.tlor.l Wlldlf€ Relug€ In Voeueh (Photo 

High hority Conservatron Projects: 

l Surveys of dle status of wild populatrons 

2. Increase thecons€rvalion role ofthe captive rcming cenlers' 

3. Enhanced protecdon of wild populations. 

Cuban crocodif e (CtocodJlus rhombikr). Ttte C]ubzn cto'o' 

dilehasthesmallestdistribudonof anyextantcrocodilian This 

species was known from only lwo wild populauons, in lhe 

ipab and l-anier swamps, but recent evidence suggcsls thal 

the latter population may have been extirpated. The introducri,on 

of Cainan ocodilus inro the La',iet Swamp has been 

sussestcd as a signilicanr lacto n this ertrrpation A large' 

'ci"ecapLi'e utecarng program har b€encsLablishcd including 

comme;cial ulilization of skins and meai Lide atiention has 

b€en given 10 $e sotus of wild populauons. 

Hish Priorily ConservaDon Proj€t!s: 

llDekrmine the sBlusot t}le cuban crocodile in the zapah 

Swamp and in the Lanier Swamp, Isla de Juventud' 

2. Devel;p and inplement m?rnagement prograns in Cuba 

Tomistoma (lo isrot& sctt&g.rri). Tbe tomisloma b one of 

lhe leasl-knowo crocodrlians, both in t€rms of ecology and 

status. Neve(ieless, all currenr indications are lhat wild 

DolNlations arc extremely depleted. No management d research 

programs have been initiated. 

Hiqh Prioriry Conservabon Projec|s: 

l:S|-atusurveys in Tlailand. Malaysia" and Indonesia' 

2. Development anal implementatlon of cons€rvation and research 

programs in tndonesiand Valaysia 

Orinoco crocodil€ (Ctucodrlr.ls irt ttt nediu s). This species is 

found only in the dnoco River &ainage of venezuela and 

Colombia. Populations are exfemely depleted fiom past hide 

hunting, conlinued habibt modification, and indiscrimrnate 

2. Development and implementation of a national crocodilo 

killing. Ecological inlemctions *il\ Coinan crocodilus may 

management FogJam in fie Philippines. 

also bc retarding natural rccovery Some crocodrle habita! has 

been proteclcd and a rcslocking program has been initiated rn 

Chinese afligator (Alrigd tor sinettsisr. The Chincse alligalor 

bas b€en pushed to the brink of extinctron by lhe temcndous 

hurnan population pressures in the lower Yangtzo River valley' High Prioflty Conservation Projects: 

Viftraliy ;o natural habil.at remains and the few surviving wild 1. PoDulation status survoy in Colombiainalividuals 

are forcoal !o live in closo pmximity !o dense human 2. ReinEoduction progran at rlhe Cailo Guatitico National 

DoDUlalions. The c utrent gove m menG sponsored conservaLion Wildlife Refuge, Veneuela 

prognm has retied principally on caplive breedrnS. and httlc 3. Implementaiion of a crocodile management plan for Santos 

attenlion has been given to the siallls of wild populahons Luzardo Nalional Park, Venezuela 

Gh^ri?ll (C avialb gan ge ticlr). The gharial is resarcrcd 10 only 

a few remaining wild popLrlations h lndra and Nepal Populations 

in Pakislan, Bangladesh, Burma, and Bhuqn arc either 

cxtirct or near extinction lcvels. A successful leslocking 

progam has been initiated in India and Nepal and populations 

in some areas are now recovermg. 

High Priorily Consenation kojects: 

1. Survey of slatus and distribution in Pakislan. 

2. Survey of status and disEibution in eastem India and 

Bangladesh. 

3. Eslablishment of captive rearing conler in Pakistan. 

4. Establishmont of captive rcaring cenlers iD Bargladesh and 

northcastem India

Country Accounts 

Introduction 

This section presents accounts of each sfrecies fourd within a 

country for all the countries (a totrl of 94) which have a rccenr 

crocodilian fauna. The countries are presented alphabetically 

wilhin thre€ contincntal secrions: Africa. Asia_ and North and 

Soulh America. E3ch account summarizcs the informatioo and 

presents a nting for lhe available survey data, wild population 

status, and current management progams for each species. The 

rating categories were broadly defined !o be as unambiguous as 

p,ossible, buta considerable amounl of subjecrive interprcration 

of the dala was involved, esp€ciauy in the determinalion of 

population status, Contaci persons for each country arc given 

and full addresses can be found in App€ndix 1. 

Survey Data 

The quality of survey data ranges from countrics for which no 

crocodilian ppulation surveys whatsoever havebecn allempted, 

to otheff forlvhich ext€nsive widesprea data arD available over 

a priod of I G 15 yearc. Theso dala have b€en ranted inro four 

catego.ies of incrcasing qualiry. Thc distincrion berwcen 

calcSoriesland ll was based on rhe facl dal in somecounric


Africa 

Nile crccodile 

Algeria 

Nile crocodile (Croco dylus ,riloticus) 

Statusof Wild Populations: During the early 1900s, isolated 

populations were confirmed from a series of small lakes and 

ponds in thc Tassili-n-Aijer region of soulheastom Algeria 

These populations had been shot out by lhe French by 1934 

(cugeisberg 1972). 

Manag€ment and Cons€rvation Programs: Curenl: No 

wild populations rcmain. Pmposed: None. 

Country Rating 

Survey Dala: I-no survey planned 

Wild Population Sfatus: 2-exdryated 

ManagementProgram: l-no infornadon 

Slendcr snouEd crocodile 

Nile crocodile 

Dwarf crocodile 

Angola 

Slender.snouted crocodile 

(C ro c o d! Ius calap hrac tus) 

Status of Wild Populations: No reccnt survey data are 

availablc. The species is rcported !o be endangered and present 

only in rivers in $e nonh-northedslem r€gion of the country 

bordering Zaire and Cabinda (Pooley 1982). 

Msnagement and Cons€rvation Programs: Currcnl Prorcc(cd 

by decree in 1969. Hunting and the exporlofskins are 

prohibired (Pooley 1982). 

Country Ratirg 

Survey Dah: I-no survey planned 

Wild Population Strtus: 3-severcly depleteavendangcred 

Managemen! hogram: Clegislation 

Nile crocodile (Crrcodylus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recont survey alata are 

available. In 1980, the species was widely aLstnbuted through_ 

out the country and considercd to be rare to vulnerable. Good 

numbers ofcrocodiles rrore rcported to bc in (he lower Kuneno, 

Cuanze, and lhe rivers to lhe eas! fPooley 1982). 

Msnsgem€nt and Conservation Programs: Hunting and 

expon of skins were prohibit€d by decrcc in 1969 (Pmley 

1982). 

CountrJ Rating 

Survey Dala: I-no survcy planned 

Wild Population Status: 4-depleted/wlndable 

Managemenl hogram: C-legislation 

Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent survey dala are 

available and thc slatus of lhis spccics is uncertain. Apparently 

ir only occurs in thc enclave of Cabinda norlh of the Congo 

river. In 1980 this species wasclassifiedas rare or indclerminate 

(Pooley 1982). 

Management and Conservation Programsl Prctecled by 

decrcc since 1969. The hunling of crocodiles and the export of 

skins is prohibiled (?ooley 1982). 


Survey Data: I no survey planned 

Wild Populatron Stalus: l-unl(nown 

Managemcnt Program: Clegislation 

Contact: Nkosi Luta Kingengo 

Slender snoured crocodile 

Nilc crocodrle 

Dwarf qocodile 

Benin

Slender-snouted crQcodile 

(C r o c o d! lu s c atqp hr ac tu s ) 

Ststus of Wild Populations: No r€cent survey data arc 

available, but it is listed as being present in the Oueme River by 

Pooley (1982) and wai&uwait (1989). 

Management atrd Conservaaion Programs: Fully protocted 

under 1980legislation (Klomm and Navid 1989). 


Survey Data: I-no survey planned 

Wild Population Status: l-unknown 

Management hoglam: Ciegislation 

Management and Conservation Programsi See C, 

calaphf ac I us acconnt abo\ c. 


Survcy Data: I no survey planned 

Wild Populalion Statusr l-unknown 

Management ftogram: Ciegislation 

Conlact: Mr. l-aurent Worou 


Botswana 

Nile crocodile (Crocodllus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: The present and hisloric distribution 

of the Nile crccodile in Botswana is limired to the few 

perennial rivers in ftis arid country. The largest populations arc 

in theokavango River, fie Okavango Delt!" and in the Limpopo, 

the Kwando, and Linyandrchobe dvers. Estimated crocodile 

population size in $e Okavango is 5,704-6,608, and in lhe 

nonhcm and eastem region of the country tho @tal population 

is estimated at I,185-2,?80. The btal populadon in thc Limpopo 

Rivcr is esrimatcd to tte 2,552. Isolalcd and unsuweyed, 

populadons also exist in hke Liarnbezi and Savuti Channcl. 

The counry's tolal crocodile population size is projected to be 

9,000-10,0m (CITES 1989, Simbolwe 1990). 

A sories of aerial surveys to count crocodile rcsB in the 

upper Okavango Delta rvas conducted between 1973 and 19?9 

(Grahan 1976, Crahaln and Sinbolwe 1988, Sinbotwe 1990). 

Nesting ircreased by an average of 9.5% annually fton 1975- 

19?9. Aerial surveys were rcsumed in 198? and indicaled 

nesting levels were similar to $e 1979 level (this despite the 

Nile crocodile (Crocodllus offtate of 175-3m adult females in the previous thrce years; 

niloticus) 

Graham and Simbotwe 1988). However. lhe numbcr ofncsts in 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent survey data are 1989 was reponed !o be down (Simbotwe and Guillefo, pers. 

available. ItispresentinthePendjariNationalParkandtheBali comm,) 

\Yaterhole(Pooley 1982). 

Management and Conservation Programsr Crcrodiles in 

Management and Conservation Programsi See C, BoBwana arc regulated under the Fauna Conseflation Act of 

c at a p hr ac I us acc ount abov e, 

1961. They are considered a game animal and hunling is 

permitied by license. Crocadiles were extensively hunted in the 


Okavango rcgion bctwcen 1959 and 1969, and again in 1973- 


1974 (Graham and Simbotwe 1988). For the period 1986- I 989 

Wild Population Slalus: I'unknown 

pcrmils wcrc issued to collect 1,600 adutl crocodiles and 12,000 

Management hograrn: Clegisladon 

eggs from fte Okavango. The aduh crocodiles were for usc in 

captive breeding operations in Botsrvana, Namibia, and Soud 

Africa. Two caplive breeding opemlions arE currently registered 

with the CITES Secretariar wildlife Servicer Botswana 

Dwarf crocodif e (Osteolaemus tetraspis) 

and rhe Okavango S wa.rnps Farm. Thcsc $vo farms still dcpend 

Status of Wild Populationsr No rcccnt suvey data arc 

availablc. h is listcd as being presenl in the Oucmc, Mckrou, 

and Alibori rivqs (Wailkuwait 1989). 

largely on eggs from the wild. Another farm (Tuli Block/ 

Limpopo River Farm) has rccendy stated opendon along thc 

Limpopo River (L. Guilletie. pers. comm.). 

Bobwana maintained a reservation on the Nile crocodile 

until the popularion was Eansfered to CI'IES Appendix II in 

1985 (pu6uant 10 Resolution Cont 5.21) and an annual quota 

of qopp€d crocodiles was established at 2,000. This quota was 

not rcalized due 10 adminisradve problems, so the quota was 

extended in 1987. To ilate no crocodile skins havc bccn 

cxponcd. However, since 1983, 4,487 live crocodiles have 

been exportcd !o olhcr crocodilc farms in South Africa and 

Namibia. A1 thc 1989 CITES confcrcnce, Bobwana removcd 

itr re.servation on l.he Appendix I lisring ofc. nilrtlcLr, clearing 

the way for fie Eansfer ofcrocodile populations !o Appendix lI 

under Resolution Cont 3.15 (raflching crileria). 

l,egal cropping continues but is limilcd 1o 50 per year for 

non-resident safari hunters. 

Country Rating: 

Survey Data: Ill-basic survey data 

Wild Population Sla1us: 4-depleted/vulnemblo 

Management hogran: 8.2'ranching, E.3-farming 

Contact: Dr. Jon M. Hulton,John Seaman,Dr. M.P. Simbolwc, 

G.C. Crair 

15

Slender-snouted crocodile 


Dwarf crocodilc 

Burkina Faso 


(C ro cod! lus cataphrac h.s ) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent sufley data are 

avîl^ble. C. cataphructur was reported to be present in lhe 

Comoe, Black Volta, and Bougouribariven (Wai*uwait 1989). 

Pooley (1982) notes tha! populations have disappeared from 

mosr arcas. Skin hunling and the collection of eggs for consumplion 

were noted ro b€ the biggest problems 

Nile crocodile (Croco tiylus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: No reconl survey dalA are 

available. Reponed to have b€en common at th€ mouth of the 

Rusizi River near lho capital ofBujumbu'a, and present in Ilke 

Tanganyika eooley 1982). 

Managem€nt and Conservation Progrems: Legally protecr,ed 

under a l97l rcgularion (Klemm and Navid 1989). 

Country Reting 

Survey Data: I-no suvey planned 

Wild Population Sfatus: l-unknown 

Management hogran: C-legislation 

Managem€nt and Conservation Programs: Fully protected 

by legislation enacted in 1979 (Klemm and Navid 1989). 

Count.y Rating 


Wild Populalon Status: l-unknown 

Managemenl Program: Cleglslation 


Status of Wild Populations: No rcccnl survey data are 

available. Liste.d as being prcsenr in $c Black Vol(a, Red volfa, 

and Whirc Vol|a (Pooloy 1982). 

Management and Conservation Programs: Scc C. 

c a I a p hr dc I 16 acx,orunl alJov e, 

Slender-snouted crocodilo 



Cameroon 


(C r o. o d! lu s c at ap hrac tu s ) 

Status ofwild Populations: The species was listed as endangered 

by the Fauna Conservation Deparnnent in 1980 (Pooley 

1982). Abercrombie (1978) rcported local informanls saying 

this sp€cies was quile common in rcmote areas of lho Cross 

river. Lirde skin tmdo was reported but the flesh was eaten. A 

quick survey by Behra (pers. comm.) in 1988 found extsemely 

few animals. 

Country Ratiog 


wild Popularion Strtus: l-unknown 

Management Programi C-legislation 

Dwa.f crocodile (OJte olaemus tetrospis) 

Status of Wild Populations: No rc.ent survcy dala are 

available. waitkuwait (1989) lists it from the Comoe, Black 

Volta, and lhe Bougouriba rivers. 

Managem€ntand Conservation Programs: Lcglslation pertaining 

to C. cataphractB alitd C. nilaric,lj also presumably 

applies to this species as wcll. 


suraey DaIa: I'no suncy planncd 

Wild Population Slatus: I -unknown 

Managcmcnt Program: Clegislalion 

Contact: Mr. Souleymane zeba 


Burundi 

Management and Conservttiotr hogramsi In lhe 1970s, 

crocodilians were unprolecEd outlide of nationalparks Cooley 

1982). The hunting of crocodrles under license was authorized 

by legislarion in 1983 fv'lemm and Navid 1989 

Country Raaing 

Survey Data: I-no survey plannod 


Management ProgEm: E. l-cropping 

Nile crocodile (CrocodJlus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populatiotrsi No recent survey data arE 

available. This sp€cies is considered !o be endangered by the 

Fauna Conservaiion Depanmcnt in 1980 (Pooley 1982). 

Abercrombie ( 1978) states ftat commercially exploitablepopu' 

laiions had not existed in over l0 years. Behra (pers. comm.) 

reporled small populations occurred in the no(hem pa( of the 

counlry. Although the population was conditionally transferred 

ro CITES Appendix II in 1985 (see below), no survey 

data was available. 

Management and Conserrafion Programs: The hunting of 

crocodiles was authorized under license by legislation in 1983 

(Klemm and Navid 1989). Cameroon's population was transfened 

lo CITES Appendix lI in 1985 and an annual expo(quota

of 20 was established for 1985- 1986. This quora was rais€d !o 

100 at lhe 1987 CITES me€ting, but no Ftition was pres€nted 

at the 1989 meetings so the crocodile populations remarned on 

Appendix II with a zero quota. 




Management Program: E.l-cropping 

Dwarf crocodile (Os teolqemus tetraspis) 

Stalus of Wild Populations: No recenl survey dala are 

available. 

Management and Conservation Progrrms: It is not known 

.*hether legislation perhinin gto C . cataphractus andc .,tiloticus 

also applies to this species. 


Survey Dala: I-no survey planncd 


Management hogram: A-none 

Contact: Dr. Stephen Ganlan 

eastem CAR is 5,500-16,500. Higher densities wero noted 

from dlo Oubangui River (7.6/km) along the border wilh Zaire. 

As wlth C. cataphractus, y)arhing continues ao be a problem. 

Management and Conservation Programs: Seo C. 

calaphta us acco]unt atove. 


Survcy Dala: Ill-basic survey data 

Wild Population Status: 4-dcpleted/vulnerable 

Managemenr hogram: Clcgislalion 

Dwarf crocodile (OJ teolaemus tetraspis) 

Status of Wild Populations: The surveys by Behra (1987b) 

fol]nd fio Osteolaemus. An authority cited in Pooley (1982) 

reporled this spe.ies lio be plenliful in lhe dry Birao region. 

Matragenetrt and Cols€rvation Programs: See C, 

c al d p hf o c I us acc otJr.l abov e. 

Country Raling 

Survey Data: trI-basic survey data 

Wild Population Starus: l-unknown 

Managemcnt Prognm: C'legislation 

Contact: Olivier Beh.a, Floris Dcodalus, Alisurr Graham 

Central African Republic 

Siender-snouled crocodile 

Nile cmcodile 

Dwirf crocodile 


(C ro c od! lus cataphrac hts ) 

Status of WiId Populations: Surveys were conduclod by 

Behra (1987b) in fivedifferentareas in eastem CAR. Conected 

der,si,tiesof C. cataptuactls ranged from 0.1-04/tm. Extrapolations 

for castem CAR sugges! dnt the lotal populadon size is 

60G I ,800. Higher densities were noted in the Ougbangui River 

along the bords wilh Zaire (4.l^m). Poaching by l()cals and 

Sudanese reb€ls is a problem. 

Management and Conservation Programs: Legally pro 

lecred in 1984 (Klemm and Navid 1989). 



Wild Population Slalus: 4-depleted,/vulnemble 

Management Program: Cleglslation 

Slender-snouied crocodile 


Chad 


(C rocodllus c ataphrac tu s ) 

Stetus of Wild Populations: No recent survey data available. 

The presence of this species in Chad is menlioned by Coll and 

Pooley ( 1972). Pooley ( 1982) notes that this species is thoughr 

to occur in everal tributaries ofthe Chad River. Its status in 

1980 was considercd !o be endangered, 

Managenent and Conservation Programs: hesumably 

regulations for C. niloticus (see below) also apply 10 this 

spccres, 

Counary Rating 

Survey Data: l-no survey planned 

Wild Populadon Slatus: 3-severely depleted,/ endangered 

Managemenl Program: E.l cropping 

Nif e crocodif e (Crocodllus niloticus) 

Slatus of Wild Populations: Surveys conducred by Beka 

(1987b) at five riverine sitos in eastem CAR show conecled 

dcnsilics of Ll-1.9,&m. The €shmated population size for 

Nile crocodife (Croco tlllus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Popnlatioff: No recent survey dalA are 

available. Pooley (1982) reports $athunting had reduced the 

population by some 907. in the early 1970s. and that a 1979 

17

epon lisled lhe species as ranging from rare io locally vulnerable. 

Isolated populations were reponed ftom t}lc nonhem 

region of the counlry in the Ennodi Mountains as Iale as 1960 

(Wake and Kluge l96l). 

Management and Consffvation Programs: Prior to 1970, 

legislation regulating cropping of wild topulations, skin deal, 

ers had to be licensed, and an export lax was levied on all skins. 

Hunling was foftidden in national parks and in the nonhem part 

of the country. Th€ minimum legal size was established as 25 

cm b€lly width, and egg collection was forbidden. Theenforccment 

of dcse regulations was largely ineffective and difficult 

to con|rol, especially after lhe advcnt oflhe civil war. Crocodile 

farming projecti in thc vicinity oflake Chad were initiated in 

1972 but were abandoned after 4-5 years (Pooley 1982). 

CountryRating 

Survcy Data: I-no survey planned 

Wild Population Status: 3-severely depleted/endangered 

Managemcnl Progran: E. l-cropping 

(1982) considercd fie overall population s6lus to be poot but 

that good populations still remained in the rcrthem forested 

regions of the counEy. Befua (1987c) surveyed seven siLs in 

the nonhem pan of the Congo. Corected population densities 

rangedftom 0.45-3.74m. TheexFapolatedpopulation size for 

nonheastem Congo was 2,8m-8,600, and for the entire country 

was 4,000-13,000. 

Matragem€ntand Cons€natiotr Prcgrams: TheNile crocodile 

is lisred as being proi€cted in national parks by Pmley 

(1982). A 1983 decree permits hmting under license (Klemm 

and Navid 1989). In 1985 $e Congo population \las reclassified 

as CITES Appendix II and an annual expon permit of I,0m 

crcpped skins was established. This quota was reduced to 150 

in 1987, and eliminated dtogethe. in l9m. 



Wild Population Status: 4-depleted/vulnerable 

Management hogram: E. l-cropping 

Contac! Mr. Daboulayo Ban Ymary 

Slender-snouled crocodilc 



Congo 


(C roc odllus calaphractu s) 

Statusof Wild Populations: This spe.ies was nor considered Management and Conservation Programs: The dwarfcrocodile 

is protected in national parks (Pooley 1982). A 1983 decre€ 

to be endangered by authoriries cited in Pooley ( 1982). Surveys 

by Bchia (1987c) of seven siics found correctedensidcsof 0.3, permils hunting under liccnse (Klemm and Navid 1989). In 

6.54m. ExEapolated populadon size for the norlheasrcm 198?, the Congo population of O,rreold€mB was ransfeffed ro 

section of (he counFy surveyed was 10,000-30,000, and for aho Appendix II and a quota of 500 esbblished. At the 1989 CITES 

entire country was 15,000-45,000. 

conference, realizing lhat no marke! existed for OJlsolaem&J 

skins, $e Congo had proposed the reclassification of lhis 

Management and Conservation Prugrams: Pooley (1982) species into Appendix I and the eliminarion of tho quota. 

shtes that ftis species is prot€cred in narional parks. A 1983 Ins@ad, the population was rerained on AplEndix II, and rhe 

decree perni|s hunting under license (Ktemm and Navid 1989). Congo was given a zero quota (Hemley 1989). 

In 1987, the Congo popularion was u'.nsfcncd to CITES 

Appendix II and an annual quora of6m C. cdrdpLacr&r skins Country Rating 

to b€ exported was established. This quota was also amrovcd Survey Data: Ill-basic survey data 

for 6e p€riod 19901992 at the 1989 CITES conference. All Wild Population Status: l-unknown 

skins come from cropped wild individuals. 

Management Program: C,lrgisladon 


Survey Dala lll-basic survey dara 

Wild Population Sl-alus: 4depleted/vulnerablc 

Managemeni hogram: E. l-cropping 

Nife crocodife (Croco tlylus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: Authorities cited in Pooley 

Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus te'raspis\ 

Status of Wild Populations: Osteolaemus is sard to be 

plcnliful in the nonhem part of the counfy eooley 1982). bur 

surveys by Behra (198?c) in larger rivers failed lo see any. 

Agnagna (1989) commenrs on nesfng by this species in rhe 

Congo bul prescnts no dala on status. The Congo fom of 

O'edaenir.r was described as being laxonomically disrincr 

from theWesl African form by Schmidt (1919). Since r,llat rnnc 

no workhas been done on the oxonomic status ofAfrican dwarf 

crocodilcs and futu.e invesligations of this ropic are ,/arranred. 

Contac! Olivier Beha, Marcellin Agnagna 

Slender-snoutcd crocodile 

Nile cr$odile 

Dwarf crocodilc 

Equatorial Guinea 

18

C-rocodllus cataphrdctus. C rocodllus niloticus, 

Osteolaemus retrasDis 

for 1990 and 8,870 for t99l-192). 

Slarus of w itd populstions: No data ale available 

Ralilq 

conce-inr 9ounfI 

the sl3lrs of crocodilians in Equalorial Guine3. soutensei 

Dar:. ul-Dasrc suaey 

i-{te] 

clata 

(1889) reponed a sp€cimen of C. cabpfuactus n the Bn;h ,1llo PopulaE_on Slatus: 4_dcpleted'/wlnerable 

Museum which originat€d from Femando po (Bioko). 

Managemenl hogmm: E.2-mnching 

Managementand Couservation hograms: Unknowo, 

Contaca: Tadesse Hailu, Dr. Cris Hilman, Dr. Jon M. Hullon 



Wild Populalion Saarus: I,unknown 

Management Prcgram: A-no information 

Contact: Dr. John E. Fa 


Egvpt 

Nife crocodile (Cracodylas niloticas) 

Status ol Wild Populations: Historically pres€nt in $e Nile 

river valley as far nonh as the delta (Andenon lggg). Extirpared 

from the country sometime dudng the early part of rhis 

Ethiopia 


century. Following the damming of the Nile by rhe Aswar 

Dam, crocodiles have be€n reportod from Lake Nasser 

(Croombridge 1982), presumably having immigrabd noth 

Nile crocodile (CrocodJtus niloticus, 

from Sudan, bur their status remains unknown. From Dccem_ 

Statusof WildPopulations: Crcoditesarewidetydisfibuiedbcr 1988 to March 1989,50!o60juvenitecrccodites (3540cn 

in lowland Ethiopia. Commercial hunting reduccd 

long) 

crocodile 

were confiscated from pet shops and stre€r venoors n 

numben in areas accessible !o hunters, In 

Cairo and Aswan. 

Fotected areas 

In January, 1989, a 2.4 m crocodile was 

crocodile populations are said to have increased 

caughr 

subsranriallv 

and killed in fishing nels in the Nasser High Dam 

ovcr lhe lasr ?0 yeai s I CTTES I 98q, Doc. 

(Bruessow, 

7.42). The esr imaLj 

in 1i11. July 10, 1990). 

populatioD of crocodiles in Iake Chamo in 1987 was 4.175. 

During Lhe same year, 3lb crocodile nes6 were tound 

Manag€ment 

around 

and Conservation programs: Fully prorccled 

the lake. Aerial surveys of about 100 km of river 

by law (Decree 

wirhin fic 

1059 of I984;Klemn and Navid 1989). 

Omo National Park revealed relatively high crocodile densilies 

(259 crocodiles over 1.5 m ro(al length on one bank only). 


HabiLaL lo(< is a major problem in Ediopra. SeLdemcnt 

Survey Dala: 

of 

Il-surveys planned 

nverbank habitats is roducing the number of available 

Wild Population 

neslins 

Sralus: 3-severcly deptcred 

b€achcs. Hunting of crocodites for rhrir skinr 

Management 

or mcar i; 

Rogram: C-legislation 

apparendy not a major problem. 

Conlact: Dr. Mohammed Nael. Dmen M. Bruessow 

Managementand Conservation programs: Commercial 

hunting ofcrocodiles was prohibited in l9?2 when this sDecies 

\ras li\|fd as a game anjmal. Hunung is by perml only. 

(-rocodiles within rhe nafional p&ks are prolecFd, and it i. 

Gabon 

estimated that rhese accounl for 50% of $e endre crocodile SlendcFsnoulcd crocodile 

populalion. 


In 1983. an FAo-sponsored crccodile ranchrnS program Dwarf crocodile 

began. A pilot ranch was esrablished ar Arba Minch. and 

ranching is based on lhe colleclion of eggs from I_ake Chamo. 

In 1986, 5.521 eggs were collected ftom 126 nests Drooucrns a Slender-snouted crocodile 

toral ol 4.428 halchtings. Approximarely hall 

(C 

ot these harc-hlings 

were kepr on lhe farm and lho resr retume.d ro the wild Statusof 

t o c o dy Iu s c at aphrac tu s) 

(ctTEs 

Wild Populations: A t9?8 repon lisred rhis 

1989). 

species 

as common in the lower coasral strip belween pon 

Ethiopia was nor Gcntil and 

a member of CnES in 1987, bul a&ended Mayumba (?ooley I 982). Bchrd ( 1987a) 

lhc CITES gener-al 

surveyed 3 silcs in lhe 

conference and announced a s€lf-imDosed Ogoue river drainage in nonhem 

quola 

cabon and one 

of 500 sk ins. 

coasbllagoon. 

Following I 987. E Lhiopiajorned CtTEt and At one sile insufficient dara were 

their populations 

collec(ed ro eslimare densiry. 

of C. nrlo,icr./r werc conditionally ransfened Two sites were lakes and corected dcnsity was 

to App€ndix 

calculated 

II to 

to 

allow an expon qDola forranched skins (9.370 

be 

1 .28^rn'and 0.95/tm1. On rhe Ogoue River, corrected density 

t9

of C. cataphractts'rns39.2/tm. Behra noles dut poPulations Slender-snouted crocodile 

have been reduced, especially in readily accessible areas, but (C r o c o.lylu s c qtaq hr ac h! s) 

6e OgoueRiverpopulation is qnilE lar gc. T otal C. c a I op hrac tus 

Status of Wild Populations: No .ecent survey da|]a are 

popularion size was estimated to be 30,000-90,G4o. comner_ 

available, bul the species was considered in 1980 to tre rare or 

cial cxploiiation during lhe 1960s was reported to bc severe 

endangered. Poaching continues and habical destruction is also 


a problem (Pooloy 1982) 

Management and CoDs€rvation Programs: Pooley (1982) 

reports that a 1966 decree protecB crocodiles in nadonalnrks' 

in reserves, and in the entire country throughoul lhe breeding 

eason. Permits arc issued annually for commcrcial harvesting 

A tempomry ban wasplacedon all hunring in 1981 (Klemn and 

Navid 1989), but the present logal status of docodrles is 


SuNey Data: Ill-basic survey data 

Wild Population Staius: 4-deplercd/\Trlrcrablo 

ManagementProgram: C'legislation 

Nif e crocodif e (Crocodylus rriloticusl 

Status ofwild Populations: Abercrombic (1978) noted ftat 

populations of C. n|odcrr were severely depleted in Gabon. 

This stalomenl is supponed by the recent survey done by Behra 

( I 98?a), who failed to sight a single individual of this species. 

Management and Conservrtion Programsl See C 

calap hf ac I Lt acconnt abo\ e. 

Country Raring 


Wild Populadon Status: 3-severcly depleied/cndangered 

Management Program: Clegislalion 

Dwarf crocodile (Os teolaemus tetraspisl 

Ststus of Wild Populations: Orlerlamlr were only seen al 

one ofthree sites for which survey dala ale avallable from Behra 

(198?a). At Sette Carna lagoon, a coastal lagoon, a conccted 

density of 1.58/tm' was calculatcd. 

Management and Cons€rvation Programs: See C. 

c at d p fu ac t 6 acc o lnt aboY e. 


Suryey Data: Ill-basic survey dala 

Wild Populatron Stalus: 4-depleted/vulnerablc 

Managemen! Program: Clegisladon 

Contact: Olivier Belua, Mr. Jean'Hubert Eyi Mb€ng 

Menag€menf and Conservation Programs: Fully prolecled 

by law (Wildlife Conservation Act, 1977; Pooley 1982' Klemm 

and Navid 1989). 

Coutrtry Rating 

Survey Dalai I-no survoy data 

Wild Population Status: 3-severcly aleplercd,/endangercd 

Maragement hografi : C-legislation 

Nile crrcodile (Crocodtlus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent suney dall are 

available. Satus of C. l ildrrcr.r in the late 1970s was described 

as \ulnerable. It is reported to t€ soen regularly in the Abuto 

National Park (Pooley 1982). 

Mansgement and Conservatiotr Programs: See C 

cotap fu aa t(s acoonnl ad)Ye 


Survey Data: I'no survey Planned 

wild Population Siatus: 4-depleted/vulnerablo 

Management hogrun: Clegislation 

Dwarf crocodile (O.teolqcmus tetraspis) 

Status of Wild Populations: No rcceni survey dala arE 

available. Listed in Pooley (1982) as endangered 

Manag€ment and Conservation Programs: O. r.naspishas 

been legally protected since 197? (Pooley 1982). A proposal 

has becn made !o conduct an ecological sndy of this species 

tfuoughout fie counFt and 10 translocate animals into rehabilitated 

forcst pools in the Abuko Nature Reserve (Jonos and Day 

r987). 


Survey Data: Il-survcys Planncd 

Wild Population Sfatus: 3-s€verely deplercd/endangered 

Management hogram: Clegislation 

Contact: E.F. BEwer 

Slender snouied crocodile 

Nilc crocodile 


Gambia 

S lender-snouted crocodile 


Drvarf crocodile 

Ghana 

20


(C ro c o d! lu s c al ap h rac h! s) 

Staaus of Wild Populations: No receni su ey alala ale 

available. Pooley ( 1982) reporB thal this species is found in low 

numbers in coastal lagoons, as well as ifl lhe Volla l,ako and 

largor rivers in the forest zono. Listed as being foud in the 

Black Voha, Tanoe, and Bia rivors by Wai*uwait (1989). 

Management and Cotrs€rvation Proglams: Fully protect€d 

unaler the Wildlfe Conservadon Regula[ons of 197 I (Pooley 

1982, Klemm and Navid 1989). 

Counfty Rating 

Survey Datai l-no survey planned 

wild Population Shtus: l-unknown 



Status of WiId Populations: No recent survey dala arE 

available. Populations were apparcndy very low in thc early 

1970s(CottandPooley 1972). Thedanningof fieVohzRiver 

and the creation of Lake Volta has created a great deal of ncw 

habilat for the species but lhoro are no dala on prosont crocodile 

status in the lake. 

Managcment and Conservation Programs: See C. 

catap hrac I us accornl abolrc, 


Survey Dalz: I-no survey planned 

Wild Population Slatus: I'unkno*n 


Dwarf crocodife (Os leolaemus letraspis, 

Status ol Wild Populrtionsi No recent survey data are 

available. Pooley (1982) repois that in some areas they may be 

reasonably plentiful is srnall forcst rivers. King GErs. comm.) 

repons $aa they were common in small sireams and spoil 

ditches in and around Kumasi in 1975. Another informani in 

Pooley (1982) stated that $e species is no! very common, and 

is found principally in small sEeams and rive6 and even in tal(e 

Volta. Illegal hunting for meat occurs. The dwarf crocodile is 

lislcd as being found in rhe Black Volra, Tanoe, Bia, and Offin 

rivers by Wai&uwait (1989). 

Managehent and Conservation Programs: See C. 

c at aphrac I us accoljm alnve, 



witd Population Status: I -unknown 

Management Program: Clegrslation 

Contact Gcrald A. Pungus€ 

Slender-snouted crocodio 

Nile crocodrle 


Guinea 

Ctocodylus cataphractus, Crocodtlus niloticus, 

O s le o lae m u s te trats pi s 

Strtus ofwild Populations: No survey daa aro avarlable for 

crocodilians in Cuinea. wai&uwait (1989) lists C. cdrapr'dcrnr 

a'i,d o. tetruspis lrcm tibularies of the Niger but presenb no 

data on their stafts. 

Managem€nt and Conservation hograms: No information 

is available regarding lhe management of crocodilian populations 

in Guinea. 


Survey Dataj I-no survoy planned 

Wild Population Statui: l-unknown 

Management Progran: A-no informadon 

Cont ca: Mr. Macky Ly 


Nile cmcodile 


Guinea-Bissau 

Crocodllus cataphractus, Crocodllus niloticus, 

Osteola.mus tetraspis 

Status ofwild Populations: No survey alataareavailable for 

crocodilians in Guinea-Bissau. 

Management and Cons€rvation Programs: The Eking of 

crocodiles for spon is prohibited by law (Regla.menb da caca, 

1980), butcommercial huniing is apparendy not included in this 

law (Klemm and Navid 1989). 




Managemen! Prcg .rn: B-none 

Contaca: Mr. Pieffe Campredon 

Israel 

CIhe zoogeographic affinities of Israel, panicularly with regard 

to crocodilians, justify ils consideration hcre.) 


21

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) 

Status ofwild Populatiotrs: Extirpated. Noted by Anderson 

( 1898) to have been present in what is now Isracl. Inhabited the 

Kishon (Qishon), Zerak, and Jordan rivers. 

Msnag€menaand Conservation Programs: Nowildpopuladons 

exisl. In 1985, two crocodile farms were in operation. 

Bolh farms had C. ,'rloncr4 stock a.d ono was brccding an 

exotic species (Alligator nississippiensis; Luxmoore et al. 

l98s). 

Country Rathg 

Survey Data: I-no su.vey planned 

Wild Population Status: 2-extirpated 

Management Program: E.3-farming 

Contarl Guy Ben-Moshe, Emanuel Solnik, Prof. Yehudah 

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus'1 

Status of Wild Populations: Surveys during 198l-1983 by 

Wai&uwai( ( 1988) found a mininum density of0.83/km in the 

Comoe Rivor (Comoc National Park) (plus anoder 0.834m 

unidentified crocodilirns), but no C. ,tlo.icrr in ihe Hana River 

in Tai Nalional Park. Density in coastalagoons was very low 

(0.054m, plus 0.09/kn unidentified). 

Poolcy (1982) felt that crocodile populations had dealined 

due to habilat loss and illegal hunting. Surveys in $e early 

1980s for the establishment of commercial crocodile ranches 

found populations !o be ve.y depleted g-uxmoore et al. 1985). 

Management and Conservetion Programs: See C, 

c ol aphtoc tu: accofit attoee. 

Country Rsting 

Survey Data: trl-baric survey dal.a 

Wild Population Status: 4-depleiej,/wlnerable 

Management Program: Clcgislation 




Iyory Coast 


(C r o c o dy Iu s . at ap h r ac h! s) 

Slatus of Wild Populstiotrs: Surveys were conducrcd Fom 

1981- 1983 in three areas in the lvory Coast (Wai&uwail 1988). 

In the Como€ Rivcr in Comoe National Park, a btal crocodilian 

density of 1.77,&m (over 133.2 kn) was found with 0.11 C. 

cotop b acl Ls Wr km and'.83/km unidcntifi ed crocodilians. In 

the Hana River in Tai National Park overall density was 0.93l 

km, \\ti$, 050^m catap hra.r&r and 0.40/m unidentified (21.0 

km surveyed). Surveys in coastal lagoons found very low 

crocodiledensity: 0.m3km cataphroctu.s, 0.094m unidentified, 

and 0.15/km lolal (360 km surveyed). 

Poolcy ( 1982) comments that lhis sf'ccies is considere.d to be 

out of danger. Howcver, surveys in tho early 1980s for thc 

establishmcnt of commercial crocodile mnchcs found populalions 

to be vcry deplcled (Luxmoor et al. 1985). 

Manag€ment and Conservation P.ograms: Commerchl 

hunting is rcgulatcd by the Arrete reglemenl la chassc dcs 

crocodilcs (1967), wiri a minimum legal belly widdr of25 cm. 

An overall huniing ban was established in 1974 (Klcmm and 

Navid 1989). The establishment ofcommercial ranches was 

not considered feasible due to lhc low numbers of wild cIoco, 

dilos; instcad, a farrning operation wasrecommended (Luxmoore 

etal.l985), but lhis was nor developed. 


Survey Data: Ill-basic survey alata 

Wild Population Status: 4-depleted/wlnerable 

ManagementProgram: C-logislation 

Dwaf crocodile (Os teolaemus tetraspis) 

Status of Wild Populations: Surveys by Wai*uwait (1988) in 

1981-1983 found very low densities of this species in two 

naiional parks, and in some coastal lagoons (0.006-0.02/&In). 

Pooley (1982) commenEd that $e species was rare and rhar 

declines are attributed 1o poaching and habirat loss. 

Managemenl and Conservation Programs: O. /"'/aspishas 

been legally prorecred since lg79 (Poole) 1982). 


Surv€y Data: Ill-basic survey dara 

Wild Population Slatus: 4-depleted,/vulnerable 

Management Prograrn: Clegislation 

Contact: Dr. W. Ekke Waitkuwait 

Nile cro€odile 

Kenya 

Nife crocodile (Croco dylus ,riloticus) 

Sratus of Wild Populations: Surveys of C. |lilrr;.,lr popula, 

tions were conducted in 1988 by Hutlon (1989c). Five areas 

werc suryeyed by fix€d-wing aircraft including: lhe Tana, 

Ewaso Ngiro, and Sabakvcalana rivers, asd lakes Turkana and 

Baringo. It was concluded that population levels have declined 

since 1he lat€ 1960s, and lhat this dealine was principally 

attributable to an increaso in Kcnya's human populalion, and 

the rccent effects of a severc droughL Human exploitation of 

the Tana River populalion was intense. Observable population 

sizes and alensities (not ahsolutc figures) were estimared to be: 

I-ake Baringo-88.6, Lake Turkana-2,376. Ewaso Ngiro River- 

0.90-0.07,&m (90 km survcyed), Tana River-0.004.83/kn 

22

(140 km surveyed), Sabatvcalana River-0.0-1.5Am 020 km 

surveyed) (Hutron 1989c). 

halchlings, and habitar desrruclion were li$ed as conservauon 

problems. 

Menagement and Consc*ation programs: Crocodilos are Management snd Conserration programs: 

protocted Fully protected 

under the Wildlife (Conservation and Management) by Decision of rhe Presidenr, 1978 (Klemm and Navid 1989). 

Act which requires a permit for exploitation. Limited permitr 

were issued to Baobab Farm for egg coltecrjon. S ince I 484, rhe Country Rating 

uncontsolled colleclion of eggs, harchlings, and even adulr Survey Data: tr-surveys planned 

crocodiles ftom rhe Tana River by Mamba Vilago Crocodite Wild Population Shtus: l-unknown 

Farm has caused a great deal of concem. Cunentlv Baobab ManagementProgram: Clegistation 

Farm is opemtinS a5 a crocodile farrn and Mamba Vi ase as a 

ranch ing operarion ( H unon I q8qa L Kenya has rc.eived ;,000 

hide exflort quota under CITES, iodeasing to 6,000 in l99l 

(Hemley 1989). 


Survey Dara: Ill-basic surv€y data 

WildPopulalion Srarus: 4depleied,/wlnerable 

ManagemenL Prograrn: E. | {roppin8. E.2-ranching, 

E.3-farming 

Conlactr R-D. Haller, Dr. Jon M. Hunon, Ariel Zitber 

Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) 

Status of Wild Populsaions: No recent survey data arE 

available. Along wi$ ahe oIher two sf€cies, O. ,etrdspir was 

r€porled !o be common in the mangroves surrounding the 

capital of Monrovia. A historical reference mentions ihis 

species using holes dug into foresred riveftants (pooloy 1982). 

rlr'ailkuwait (1989) stares dlat this spe.ies can be found in $e 

Mano, tnffa, Sr. Paul, Mani, Cess, Sangwin, and Douabe 

Slender-snour€d crocodile 



Liberia 


(C r o c o dy I u s c atap hrac tu s) 

Management and Conservation programs: Fuly prorected 

by Decision of ihe Presidenl, 19?8 (Klemm and Navid 1989). 


Survey Data: I,no survcy planned 

Wild Population Sratus: I,unknown 

Managemenr Program: Clcgislarion 

Contact Alexander Pml 

Status of Wild Populations: No recen! survey da[a are 

ayallable. C . cataphractur was reporred Io b€ abundant in rhe 

Madagascar 

St. Paul, St John, and Maa-fa.ivcrs in the lare 1960s. More 

recent reports suggest thai this species was common 

Nile 

in 

crocodile 

the 

mangroves surrounding lhe capial of Monrovia, wherc little 

hunting was raking place. poaching anal habial oesnLrcrron Nile crocodife (Cfa.odllus nitoticus) 

were considercd to be problems. Wai&uwair (t 989) shres ftat 

this spccies can bc found in rhe Mano, Loffa, Sr. paul, StatusofWildPopulations: 

Mani, 

Aerial and noctumal countr of 36 

Cess, Sangwin, and Douab€ rivers. 

rivers and lakes were conducred in 1987-1988 by Behra and 

Hutron (1989). Crocodiles were found to be widespread, 

Managehent and Conse.€tion programs: Fully probcred 

especially along th€ island's west coast, but densities werc very 

by Decision ofthePr€sidenr, 1978 (Ktemm Iow. 

and Navid 

The highest 

1989). 

obscrved densiry based on ae.ial survey rras 

0.27,&m (Mangoky River; 180 km surveyed), which is well 


t'elow thc densities observcd in Zimbabwe or Zambia (Huuon 

Survey Dara: III basic survcy data 

1989a). 

Wild Population Status: 4-depleted,/vulnerabte 

Overhunting is considered to pose a serious thr€al Io crocodile 

populations in Madagascar. Also, thc rapid growth of the 

Managemenr ft ogram: Clegislarion 

human populaiion and exlensive.ice culrivation indicarcs that 

Iarge amounIs of crocodile habilar are being losr (Behm anal 

Nile crocodile (Crocodtlus niloticus) 

Hulton 1989). 

Statusof Wild Populations: No rccent survoy data are avail_ Manegement and Conservation pro$ams: prior to 198g, 

able. Th€ account in Pooley ( 1982) suggcsts rhat the specics is crocodiles were considered vermin and no effort was madc to 

endanSered but also reports lhat it is common in the mangroves control hunring. By dccre€ in 1988, crocodiles were reclassi_ 

surounding the capiEl of Monrovia. Hide hunting, sate of ficd as game animals, and hunring is regulated by pcnnit. The 

23

official huntiog s€ason is I May lhrough the fusl Sunday in Dopulalion was tmnsfen€d to CITES Append ll in 1985 

October. However, in Ocbber, 1988 hunting *as lEponed !o G;solution Conf. 5.21) and an exponquolr o[ 500 was eslablished. 

The quoa for cropped skins was increased |o ?00 in 

be continuing unabaled (Hutton 1989a). 

ln 1985, Madagascar ssked fol and received an annual quota 198? (for $eperiod 1987-1989), and an additional Bnched skin 

of 1,000 crocodiles undor Resolution Conf 5.2l Only f55 ouo|2qa(qiven ( 1987-200, I q88' 300, 1988-600) Alttle 1989 

skins were exponed in 1985, bul this increased to 600 skins in it.Igs conterence. tle tutala w i crocodile population was nans' 

1986. The 1987 quota was also 1 ,000' but an additional 2'65 I ferrcd to Appendix II under the ranching crit€rja so no CITESimDosed 

limits on ranched hidos are in effect. This was done 

stockpiled skins were authorized for export by CITES as a s'ep 

to encoumge the govemment to develop a sustainable use with the understanding that Malawi would reduce its wild 

managcment policy. One thousand skins were expo(ed in ciopping program. However, at dle 1989 CITES conference 

1988. During the Priod 1985- 1989 it is e'stinated that l7'50o Malawi indicarcd that a limited amount of cropping would 

crocodiles were killed in Madagascar, mosdy fd local sale of continuo, including the rcmoval ofnuignc€ animals. Croco_ 

coods to tourists (CITES 1989). 

dile paedation on humans accoun6 fol some l0- 15 deaths a yeal 

In 1989, Madagascare4uesled to keep its crocodile popularion 

on Appendix tr under the provisions of Resolrttion Conf One uocodtle ranch, the Dwanga Crocodile Ranch' is cur- 

(Hunon 1989a). 

3.15 (ranching criteria). This request was lrmed down bul the rently in oporation. Beginning in 1984 ihis ranch was given a,l 

crocodrle population was ke on Appedix II pursuant to annual quola of2,m0 eggs, which was reduced in 1986 to 1'600 

ResolutionCont. 5.2 t,withazetoquo(afor la90.andanannual eggs. Another ranch was reportcdly being established in 

ouola of 2.000 ranch€d skins f$ I94l'19y2. 

Mangochi. fie Dwanga Crocodile Ranch has had high hatchling 

and low monality rates and is aiming at a Foduction of 

Madagascar has proposed an ambiuous nnching program, 

and this is being supponed drough an FAO crocodile managemont 

pmjecl Howcver, atpres€nt only one nnch is in opdation breeding population of crocodiles for farning purposes 

1,600 skins per year. Th€ ranch has also established a small 

(CITES 

in Madagascar. Furthermoro, the wild popula[ons havc been 

cropped so severely that there aro no known areas where a largo_ 

scale egg collection program can be initiated (Behra and Hutton 

r989). 


Survey Data: Ill-basic survey alala 

WildPopulation Status: 3-severely depletcd/endangcred 

ManagcmenlProgram: 8.1'cropping,E.2-ranching 

1989). The Malawi govemmena requires the release of 5% of 

the ranched qocodiles into the wild, and 50 juveniles were 

releasod in 1987 (Hutton 1989a) 


Survey Data: Ill-basic s|lrvey data 

wild Population Slatus: 4-depleted/wlnerable 

Managcment hogmm: E.l{ropping, E.2-ranching' 

E.3'farming 

Conaact: Raymond Rakotonindrina, Olivier Behra' Contect: RHV Bell,JNB Mphando' Henri Nsanjama' 

J. Christophe Peyre Daren Bruessow. P Stover 

Nile crocodtle 

Malawi 

Slender'snouied crocodile 



Mali 



Status of Wild Populations: Surveys were conductcd in $e (C t o c o dJ lu s c ot ap h r ac tu s) 

mid-1980s by Uhlric (1984), Tello (1985a), and Mphande 

(1981. Overall results indicatc that crocodiles are widely Status of W d Populations: No recent survey dal, ar€ 

distributed, with Mphande (1987) finding crocodiles at l0 of available. Hidc hunting wai urcontrolled pior to 1969. Habitat 

dcsEuction for the crealion of rice fields has also been 

dle 1 I sites visited. l-arge crocodile populalions are found in thc 

Liwonde National Park and Elephant Marsh (Hufon 1989a) reponod as a major problom (Pmley 1982). Reponed bv 

The highest sample densiries were 4.64,&m (over 25 km)' and Waitkuwait (1989) to be preent in (he Baoule, Bagoe' and 

7.09^m (over 32 km) in the Liwonde National Park (Uhlric Kankelaba nvers, but no sulvey daa are presented. 

1984, Mphande 198?). Mphandc (1987) cstimaled the lotal 

Malaw.ln crocodile population size to be 8,000'15,000. Manag€ment and Conservation Progrsms: See account for 

C. îloticus bebw. 

Management and Consarvation Progmms: Crocodiles are 

protected by law and may not be hunted without permrsslon Country Reting 

ftom the govcmmenL Malawi has had a controlled cropping Survey Datai I no survey Planned 

progmm for crocodiles since 1948, when quotas were establishcd 

in Lake Malawi and $e S hire Rivcr. Malawi's crocodilc ManagementPrograin: 

Wild Populatron Status: l-unknown 

Clegislation 

24

Nife crocodile (Crocodylus t iloticus) 

Status of wild Populations: No recenl survey data arc 

available. 

Managemenf and Conservaaion Progmms: A licensedcropping 

program was inilialed h 1969. Hunters wouldpay a fee for Nile crocodile 

a permit which alowed $em to trap thre€ qocodiles per year. 

No information is available on size restrictions. A large 

perccntage of tbe budget for wildlife conservation in Mali was Nife crocodile (Crocodjlus niloticus) 

repor(ed to come ftom these hunlcr feas. Populations in Status ofwild Popul,atiotrs: Seveml surveys were conducted 

national parks and naturc reserves are reponedly proiected. in Mozambique during tho 1980s, but the resulb in some arcas 

Partial protectron is glven to crocodiles in classified fo{estry appear contadrclory. Whitaker (198 l) did aerial survcys of the 

areas (Pooley 1982). However, recent repons indicalc lhat an Zambezi delta and calculated a nean dcnsily of0.26,4rn, which 

ovcrall hunting ban was esiablished by Dccrcc 325 PGRM provided a population estinalc of 620-l;313 (CITES 1989). 

(Klemm and Navid 1989). 

Noctumal spodight counts by Tello (1985b) found ai averagc 

density of 14.85,&m, and an estinated population size of 


approximarely 35,000. 


Chande et al. ( 1989) conduct\ed spotlght and aerial surveys 

Wild Populalion Sfatus: l-unknown 

of dle upperLake Cabora Bassareservoir (ZumboAr4essenguezi 

Management Program: Clegisladon 

Basins) b€fore and afier a cull (1987 and 1988) and found 

dcnsitics of 17.7-34.4/l(n ( 1g8?-spotlight count over 30km of 

Dwarf crocodile (OJleolaemus tetraspis) 

Sbtus of Wild Populations: No recent survey dala arE 

availablc. This spocies is nol listed by Pooley ( 1982) for Mali. 

It is reported by Waitkuwait ( 1989) to be present in fie Baoule, 

Bagoc, and Kantelaba rivers, but no survcy da|a 3re presenred. 

Managem€nt and Cons€rvation Programs: The ban on 

crocodile hundng prcsumably applies to this sp€cies as well. 

Country Reting 


Wild Population Status: I'unknown 

Management Program: C lcgislalion 

Contact: Ms. Irriana Ricc.arelli Dembele 

Slendersnoutcd crocodile 

Mauritania 


(C r o c o d! I u s c qt ap h r oc lu s) 

Status of wild Populations: Groombridge (1982) reports C. 

cataphra.tu: trom M^|trilania. No addilional iflfonnadon is 

available. Groombridge also repons $at $c Nilc crocodile war 

formerly found in Maurilania but is now extirpaled. 

Managementand Cons€rvation Prog.ams: No information. 

Counl.y Rating 

Survey Data: I-no survcy planned 

Wild Population Status: I-unknown 

Management hogram: A-nonc 

25 

Contach Mr. I. Thiaw 

Mozambique 

nver), a d 9.2-22.91kn (I988-spotlighl (30 km) and aerial 

counts (116 kn)). Total crocodilc populatior size in the area 

was cstimated to be 3.197-6.207. 

Surveys in olher pais of lhe country, as well as repons from 

Foresry/Wildlifc prsonnel suggesthat crocodilcs are widespread 

in Vozambique. 

Management and Conservation Programs: Sincc 1978, 

crocodiles can only be killcd in defens€ of human life and 

property, or with a govemmcnt hunling license. Crocodiles arc 

complelely protected in four national parks. Prior to 1985 

cropping was restricted !o spon hunting. However, under 

CITES Resolution Conf. 5.21 , Mozambique was given a quota 

of 1,000 in 1985, which was not used (only two skins were 

exported in 1986). In 1987 the quota was exrended, and in lhat 

year I ,000 crocodiles were croppcd from l,ake Cabora Bassa. 

Atrcmpls at crocodile ranching b€gan in tho carly 1980s but 

were unsucccssful. In October, 1987, 1.800 eggs wcro col 

lecFd from 96 ncs6, but subs€quendy died due !o adminisEalivc 

dclays. In December, 1987, a funher 1,050 eggs were 

collected and the hatchlings transfened !o rearing pens in 

Zimbabwe until sufficienr facilities could be constructod in 

Mozambique (Chandc1 al. 1989). Subsequendy, a crocodile 

ranch has begun operation on Bazanto Island, and collectlon of 

5,000 eggs was planncd for 1988. 

At $e 1989 CITES conference, Mozambique requesned and 

received a nansfer of its Nile crocodile populations |o Appeodix 

II pursuant to Resolution Conf. 3.15 (ranching crileria). 

Mozambique also indicatcd $at il would continue a limited 

amount of cropprng, including Lhe killing of nuisancr crorodiles 

(Hcmlcy 1989). 

Counlry Rating 

Survoy Data: Ill-basic survey data 

Wild Populadon Shtus: s-not depleted 

Management Progran: C-lrgislalion, E.2-ranching, 

E.l-cropping

Contact: R. Zohlo, I. Games 


Namibia 


Status of Wild Populations: No recent suney data are 

available. Presenin the Kunene River in the nonhwesr, and rhe 

floodplains of the Zamb€zi, Chobe, and Linysnti in tie Caprivi 

ales in no(h€stern Namibia where the populations of this 

species in 1980 were not considered ro be endargercd. Also 

present in the Okavango, where it was classified as endangered 

in 1980 (Pooloy 1982). 

Management atrd Conservation Pro€rams: Crccodiles are 

legally protected in lhe Kavango area (partially), and in 

Kaokoland (firlly) and Caprivi (folly) regions (Pooley 1982). 

Three fanns were opentional prior !o 1989, but rwo closed 

down and only one currendy remains (H. Kely, in litt. June 1 I , 

19m). This farm is located in Otijiwamngo, and conrains 50 

animals ovcr 2 m long and 79 between 1.8 and 2 m. Breeding 

crocodiles were puchased from Botswana. 

Country Rrting 



ManrgemertProgiam: C-legislation, E.3-farming 

Contact: Dr. Eugene Joub€rt 

Nile crocodilc 

Niger 

Nif e crocodile (Crocodjlus niloticus\ 

Slonder-snouled crocodile 



Nigeria 


(C r o c o dy I u s c atap hrac tu s) 

Strtus of Wild Populations: No recent survey dara arc 

available. C. catapfuadus 1s Vesent in lhe Barkono River 

Gorge in the Yantari Game Reserve, where it was lisled as not 

common. It is also listed in lho Gaji and Yankari riven (Pooley 

1982). 

Maneg€ment and Conservatiotr Progmms: In $e 1970s, 

this sp€cies was not lrotecled under the rtild Animal l,aws of 

Nigeria, but was officially Fot€cted in all game reserves 

(Pooley 1982). It is now ofiicially prolacted under rhe Enalangered 

Species Decr€€ of 1985 (Klenm and Navid 1989). 


Survey Dala: I-no survcy planned 

'WildPopulation 

Status: l-unknown 

Management Program: Clegislation 

Nife crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populationsi No recent survoy dala are 

available, although it was listed by Pooley ( 1982) as widespread 

but mle. Its d€cline has been auribuled to hide hunring. 

Crocodiles are also kept in villages as objects of intcresr, for 

purported magical properties (Cott and Pooley 1972), or as 

status symbols or invesrnenls (for future sale of the hide) 

(Morgan-Davies 1980). ExEemelypoorqualityartisanallearher 

go(ds mad€ from C. rli/rti.id hides were sold to rourists from 

Europc and Nonh America in fair quanrities all through lhc 

1970s (F.W. King, p€rs. comm.). 

Status of Wild Populations: No recenr survey data arc Managem€nt and Conservation Programs: Although Nile 

available. Disfibution apporendy restricted to the Niger River crocodilcs were not protecrcd in lhe 1970s under thc Wild 

and some of its tributaries. Reponed by onc source in 1980 to Animal hws of Nigeria, lhey were officially proleclcd in all 

b€ widespread but uncommon in reseFes, this sp€cics is con, garne res€rvos (Pooley 1982). They arc now officially protecled 

under the Endangered Sp€cies De.ree of 1985 (Klemm 

sidered to be an endangered spe€ies by another source (Pmley 

1982). 

and Navid 1989). A pilor rcsrocking proglam was iniliared by 

the Kyarimi Park Zoo in 1976 ,rith tho relcase of l5 crocodiles 

Managem€nt and Conservation Programs: A permancnt in the Gasaka Game Rescrvc. In 1979,20 captivc,bredjuveniles 

were released in the Yim River in rhe cumunli came 

hunting ban was established by decree in 1972 (Klemm and 

Navid 1989). 

Reserve, and plans were made to release an addirional 50 

juvoniles in lhe Pandam Game Preserve in 1980 (Morgan- 


Davies 1980). 

Survey Data: I-no sufley planned 

Wild Population Status: 3-seycrely depleted/endangered Country Rsting 

ManagementProgram: C-logislalion 

Survey Data: I-no survey planncd 


Contact Mr. Anaala Tiega 

ManagementProgram: Clegislation only 

26

Dwarf crocodile (Os teolaemus tetraspis) 

Status of WiId Populations: No recent survey daa arc 

available, Dwarf crocodiles were rcponed to be rarc in Westem 

State in the early 1970s. The slEcics was also reporrcd from 

forcsted rivers and slrcams in Easr Cenfal Srare (pooley 1982). 

Manag€ment and Cons€rvation Programs: See C. 

cataPlt ac I us acaonnl aL|oy c, 


Survey Data: I-no su.vey planned 


Managemcnt Program: Clegislation 

Contact: Dr. Pius Anadu 


Republic of South Africa 

Nif e crocodif e (Crocodllus liloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: Poolcy (1982) summarizcs the 

known information on sratus and distriburion up ro 1980. In thc 

Transvaal, crccodiles are found in all perennial rivers in Kruger 

National Park. Outside the park, popularions are prcsent in the 

Komati, Olifants, Blyde, Sabie, Irtaba, Crocodilo, and Limpopo 

rivers. Crocodile status oulside Kruger National Park in 1980 

was listed as vuln€rablc (Pooley 1982). A survey by Jacobsen 

( 198,1) rcv€led that crocodilcs in rhe Transvaat oubide Kruger 

Nadonal Park are widespread, bul found in low densitics. 

Acrial surveys located popularions in seven rivers. Thc survoys, 

covering 2,1216 km, found a mean dcnsily of 0.27 croco, 

diles/&m. The highest observed density was on rhe lower 

Olifants River (1.13/kmi 112 krn surveyed). Based on an 

extrapolation from thcse alata, rhe total population size in thc 

Tmnsvaal was estimared to be 4,000 individuals, of which 

3,000 occur in Kruger Narional Park. 

The Nilc crocodile wai at one rime widely disEibured 

t'roughout Nalal province, and was espccially numerousln me 

rivers of NaIal province, such as fie Tugela and Umfolozi 

dvers, and at SL Lucia. Currently. crocodiles are sparscty 

disrribulcd rhroughour nonhcm Nalal from the Mozambique 

border soulh to rhe Tugela Rivcr. The major populations are 

regula@s the keeping of animals in captivity and allows for 

killing crocodiles in defcnse of human lives or propeny. ID 

Nahl, crocodiles were protccted under lhe Reptile hotection 

Ordinance of 1968. Crocodiles in the Transvaal are protecred 

unaler the Tmnsvaal Nature Conservarion Ordinance of 1983 

(Klemn and Navid 1989). Pror)eny owners may hunr crocodiles 

on their own land without pernits (Pooley 1982). 

In Natal Provincc, some consideration has be€n given ro 

rcslocking cenain areas such as the hke St, Lucia system, 

Pongolapood Dam, and Lake Sibaya, but no acrion has been 

t ken pcnding a feasibility study (D. Blake, pers. comm.) 

The commercial nanagemont of crocodiles in South Africa 

is basod on farming. A total of 28 farns were in exisrence in 

1990, and captive breeding has been accomplished on 16 of 

these (H. Kelly, pcrs. comm.). Most rcproductive stock has 

b€en obtained from other counrri€s, p€nicularly Zimbabwe and 

Botswana, Somo problem crocodiles have been capNed and 

sold to farmers by $e NaEl Parks Board (D. Blako, pers. 

comm.). In March, 1989, the to6l stock at six farrns in Nat3l 

numbqcd 6.36?, includinS 380 breeding animals. 

Plans are being made to peiition fc reclassificarion of lhe 

South African crocodile popularion ro Appendix II of CITES 

for dle development of a ranching Fogram (H. Kelly, pers. 

comm.). In 1988 the Natal Park Board inEoduced a ptan ro 

collerl eggs from vulncrable nes6 in rhe St. Lucia sysrem. 

During $e 1988-1989 season, eggs were collected ftom seven 

of the 123 ncsrs located. 

Coutry Rating 


Wild Population Status: 4depleled,/wlnemble 

Management hogram: B.3-farming 

Contactsr David K. Blake, Dr. George R. Hughes, A.C. 

Pooley, M. Darazs, Andrew Ericksen, Jan-Gerd Kuhlmann, 

Johan Marais, Howard Kelly, Perer Watson 


Rwanda 

Nile crocodife (Croco tlylus niloticus\ 

Status of Wild Populations: Thcrc are no recent survey data 

and the status of crocodiles in Rwanda is unknowr. 

found in the Ndumu came Reserve and rhe take Sr. Lucia 

Syslcm. Based on aerial counts, rhe estimalcd crocodile population 

in Natal is atlour4,5m. Somc informarion on populaaion Management and Conservation Progmms: Hunting is per, 

tiends indicates thar rhe crocodilc p,opularions in St. Lucia and mircd under licens€ (Klemm andNavid 1989). A pilot croco, 

Ndumu are relatively s(able, whercar in orhcr area such as t-akcs dile falm was rcponed to have starcd in 1984 (Luxmoore et al. 

S ibaya and Mzingaz i, rEpons indicale thalpopulalions are dectining. 

In some areas there is cvidence of organizcd poaching of 

1985). 

crocodiler for Fadirional medicinal purposcs (Blake 1990). Country Rating 


Manag€nent and Conservation Programs: Crocodrles in Wild Population Slatus: l-unknown 

South Africa arc protected under provincial, bur no1 fcderal MaMgemcnl Prograrn: E. I -cropping. E.l-farmrng 

legislation.In Nat l crocodiles aie prolccted under the Naturc 

Conscrvation Ordinanc€ as amended in 1980. This tesislation Contactr Dr. Nicole Mondon 

21

Sleniler-snouted crocodtle 



Senegal 


(C ro c o d! lu s c atap hruc tu s) 

Status of wild Populations: No recent survcy data ale 

available. Crocodile populations were reported !o have collapsed 

in lie 1970s. Illegal hunttng has b€en the primary cause 


Matragementatrd Constrvation Progrrms: All tfuee spccies 

of crocodiles were protected in national parks, nature res€rves, 

and forest reserves in 1971. Legislation tolally prot€cting 

crccodrlcs was enacted in 1967 (Klemm and Navid 1989) and 

l9?3 (Pooley 1982). Erforcement oflhes€ regulations has been 

largely ineffectiv€. 

Nile crocodlle 

Seychelles 


Status ofwild Populations: Crocodiles were extirpated from 

the Seychelles by the last century. Nile crocodiles were 

reportcd to have been common in brackish coashl marshes as 

well as some inland swamps and steans of I3 Digue, Silhou_ 

otte, and Mah6. The last crocodiles werc kiued prior !o l8l9 

(Guggisbeq 1972). 

Manag€ment and Conservation Programs: None. 

Corntry Rating 

Survey Datar l-no survey planned 

WildPopulation Status: 2-extirpated 

Management hogram: B-none 


Survcy Dat2: I-no survey plaltned 

vr'ildPopulation Slatus: 3-severely depleted,/endangqcd 

Management ProgIEm: Clegislation 

Nile crocodife (Crocodylus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recert surey dala are Slender-snouted crocodile 

(C 

alallable. Crocodile populalions were reporled !o have col' t o c o.ltlu s c at aphruc tu s) 

lapsedin $e 1970s. Illegal hunlinghasbe€nlbepnmarycause Status of Wild Populations: No recent survey data are 

(Poolcy 1982). 

availablo. The presencc of dis species in Sicra Leone has nol 

been confirmed. Irwes ( 1970i in Pmley 1982) states that $rec 

Manag€ment and Conservation Programsl See C species occur in the country, but are mrely seen. Cansdalo 

catap hr adu: accoml atovc. 

(1955) reporled the presencc of C. cataphract6 in Si€na 

l-eonc, but commented lhat it was much less abundanthan C, 


niiod.ru, and was found in some salinc mangrove habitaB. It 


is listed as being present in the Moa and the Morro rivers by 

Vr'ildPopulation Status: 3-severely depleled/cndangercd Wai*uwait (1989). 

Management Program: Clegislation 

Manag€ment rnd Conservation Programs: Tho hunting of 

crocodiles is apparently aulhonzed under license (Wildlife 

Dwarf crocodif e (Osteolacmus telraspis) 

Consenation Acl, 1972: Klernrn and Navid 1989). A bag limit 

Status of Wiu Populations: No recent dal- are availabtc, of l0 per psson was est blished (Pooley 1982). 

although the sp€cies is reponcd to be common in Parc Nalional 

Niokolo Koba, and the Gambia Rive.. Numbers were very low Country Rating 

in the Parc Nadonal Della du Saloum. Hidc h nling was Suryey Dal-a: I-no suryey planned 

reponcdly widespread in the 1970s (Pooley 1982). 

Wild Populatlon Sl2tus: l-unknown 

Managoment hogran: E.l cropping 

Management and Cons€rvation Programs: Legislauon pcr_ 

tziningto C. cataph'a.tus and C. ntlodcar presumabty appl ies 

to lhis spccics also. 

Coutry Rating 


WildPopulalion Slatus: 4-depletcd/wlnerable 

Management Prcgram: Clegislation 

Contact Mr. Assane Fall 

Slender-snoutcd crocodile 

Nile crocodrle 

Dwarf cr&odile 

Sierra Leone 

Nile crocodile (Croco tlylus nilolicus) 

Status of Wild Populationsr No recenl survey data ale 

available. Thc account by Pmley (1982) suggests that a 

significan! population decline has Izken place b€cause of commercial 

hunting and habitat loss. 

Managemcnt end Conservation Programs: See C. 

catap hr act us atcouf1 ahove. 

28

Country Ratitrg 

Survey Data: I-no survoy planned 

Wild Population Slatus: l-unknown 

Management Program: E.l-unknown 

Dwarf crocodile (OJ teolqemus tetraspis) 

Status of Wild Populations: No rocenl sufley data are 

available. O. refdrpis is apparendy found in a rvildlife preserve 

being established nqlr Mzrmunla in the country's norlhem 

province (Pooley 1982). It is listed as being prescnt in theJong 

River at Magburala by wailkuwaii (1989). 

Management and Conservation Programs: Il is uncenan 

whclhd logislationpenainin glo C. c a tap fu ac I u: and C. ni I o t i c Ls 

applies 10 this species. 

Counhy Rating 


Wild Populahon Status: I-unknown 

MamgementPrograrn: A-noinformation 

Contact: Mr. Mohamed Bereteh 

NiIe crocodile 

Sudan 

Nile crocodile (Croco tlylus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: According to Pooley (1982) 

numbers were severely depleled by illegal hunting. Elobeid 

(1990) reported that an FAO survey in 1975 estimated Sudan's 

population numbcred I million crocodiles. 

Management end Conserietion Programs: Partial legal 

protection conferred in 19?0. Pormi6 for killing socodiles 

issued by the DepL of Game and Fisheries (Pooley 1982) 

Sudan is a momber of CITES, but until reccndy held a rescrva_ 

don on Nile crocodilcs. This reservation was alropped effeclve 

26 April 1990 (Anon. 1990). Sudan was given a 1989 quota of 

5,M0 skins at the 1989 CITES m€€ting in order to sell stockpiled 

skins. A qoo{a of 5,000 was also established for 1990. 


Survey Dala: Il-surveys planned 

Wild Population Sralus: 4-depleted,/wlnerable 

ManagemenlProgram: C-legislauon, E.l-cropping 


Somalia 

Nile crocodile (CrocodJlus niloticus) 

Management and Cotrservation Programs: Crocodiles atc 

legally protecied by Forestry Conservation Law No. l5 of 1989. 

The killing of crocodiles, collection of oggs, and rearing of 

young isprohibit€d. The govemmcnt is considering esIablishing 

rhe Shabelle Swamp National Park (CITES 1989). For the 

Contacr A.C. Pooley 

first time in 1989 the Somalia populatlon of C. lrd.rr was 

ransferred !o CITES Appendix lI. with an annual quota (1990- 

1992) of 500 skins !o be obtained $rough lie cropping of 

problem animals. 


Survcy Data: Il-surveys planned 

Wild Population S6tus: l-unknown 

Management Program: E. l-cropping 

Cont ctr John B. Sale, Dr. Abdillahi Ahmend Karani 

Contactr Major Ahmed Mohammed Elobied 


Swaziland 

Status ofWild Populaaiotrs: Nile crocodiles are found in two 

river systems in soulhem Somalia: rhe Jubba and the Shabclle. Nif e crocodile (Croco.lilus ttiloticus) 

A report of unknown validity suggess lhat crocodile poPularion 

size in the Jubba is 45,000- 150,0m, and 30,000-70,000 in pre.sent in this small indepcndent country that lies b€tween 

Status of Wild Populations: The Nile crocodile is reported 

treShabelle (Watson andNimmo 1987). Howcver, avery largc south Africa and Mozambiquc (Groombridge I 982). 

correclion factor'was applicd to the number of counted crocodiles 

10 derive these esumales. Crocodrles arc being killed Managemenaand ConservationPrograms: Noinformation. 

frcquently in both river vallcys, including by the govemment 

(Fisherics Ministry) ro protect fishermen (CITES 1989). 


Suvey Data: I-no surveys 

Wild Population Slalus: l-unknown 

Management Proglam: A-unkno'tn 

Slendcr-snouted crocodile 

Nile crocodlle 

Tanzania 


(C r o. o d! lu s c at ap h rac t u s) 

Ststus of Wild Populations: No recant suney data are 

29

available. In Tanzania rhis spe.ies occurs only in Lake 

Tanganyika and thc Luichi and MalaSarasi rivers. The spccies 

was considered to be vulnerable or drcarcned in 1980 (Pooley 

1982). 

Management and Conservation Programs: Crocodiles un, 

de.r 2 m long are legally protectod under rhe Wildlife Corservation 

Act of 1974, which requires wrinen pcrmission from rhe 

Direclor of Wildlifo for hunring (Pooley 1982). 



'Wild Population Sratus: l-unknown 

MaMgoment Progran: Clegislation 


Survey Data: Ill-basic survey dara 

Wild Population Slalusr 4-deplered/vulnerable 

Vanagemfnt Program: E.l{ropping, E.2 ranching 

Contact: Emmanuel Severre, Dr. Jon M. Hutton 

Slender-snouled crocodile 

Nile clocodile 

Dwarf qocodile 

Togo 


(C ro c o d! I u s c at ap h ra. tu s) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent suney data are 

available. Pooley (1982) repor@d ftat there was a ma*ed 

population decline in the early 1970s. 

Management and Cons€rvation Programs: Crocodiles are 

coosidered lo be predatory speci€s and may be killed wilhout 

control in faming or inhabifed areas. Us€ of firearms !o kill 

Nif e crocodif e (CrocodJlus niloticus) 

cmcodiles is regularcd by license (Decree 79-139 of 1979). as 

is the hunting ofcrocodiles in garne managemeni areas (Ktemm 

Status ofwild Populations: Nile crocodiles are reportcd to be and Navid 1989). 

widespread in Tanzania (CITES 1989). Re.€nr surveys navo 

been conducted oflako Rukrva (Hiriji 1985). and in $e Selous Country Rating 

Game Reserve (Hulton and Katalihwa 1989, caJnes and Sovene Suvey Data: I-no survey planned 

1989). Total populadon size in l-ake Rukwa was esrimared !o vr'iu Population Status: I,unknown 

te approximately 5.000. Crocodiles are found at low !o Managcment Program: E. l-cropping 

moderale dcnsides (0.22- 156Am: 479 km survcyed) in aI rhe 

rivers in &e viciniiy of &e Selous came Rescrve. 

Nife crocodile (Croco rlllus niloticus) 

Management and Cons$vation Programs: The species is 

prolecrcd under lhe wildlife cons€rvarion MaMgemenr Acr 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent survey data arc 

No. 12, but the counfy has no policy or managcment plan 

available. A population errimare of l,mo is menrioned by 

(CITES 1989). Under CITES R€s. Coni 5.21 in 1985 rhe 

Pooley ( 1982) for rhe northem p6rt of rhe country in 1970. The 

Tanzanian populations of C. nlladar.r were transfcned to Appendix 

II io permit the export of skins under the quora sysrem. 

flopulation was reponedly declining in the 1960s and 1970s. 

The 1985- 1986 annual quora was I ,000, and rhis was mised !o 

Managemena and Conservation Programs: ToSo proposed 

2,000 in 1987, and again 103,500 in 1989. Exported skins arc 

the transfer of C. /trlodca ro CITES Apf,endix II in 1987, bul 

obtained from cropping wildpopularions oulside national parks 

providcd no population data. Legal status of C. nilollc$ is as 

and game res€rves. Mos! of lhe skins exportcd in 1986 camc 

desciticd abore for C . cataphtactur. 

from Lake Rukwa (CITES 1989). Auhe 1989CITESme€rings, 

Tanania sought an increaic in their quora, bur presenrcd no 


populaion survey data. However, plans are being made ro 

Su.vey Dalai l-no survey planned 

develop a ranching program and the following qlotas wcrc 

Wild Population Srarus: l-unknown 

approved: 1990, l,lmskins(l,000wild, l00rrophies), 

Management 

1991, 

Progran: E. l-qopping 

5,100 skins (4,000 ranched, I ,000 wild, and 100 trophies). and 

1992,6,100 sldns (6,000 ranched, 100 trophies). 

A crocodile farm opcned in Tanzania in 1981 bur closcd 

Dwarf crocodile (Or teolqemus tetraspis) 

do1 ,n in 1985 because of $e lack ofan inexpensivc food sourcc 

(Luxmoore cl al. 1985). 

Status of Wild Populations: No rccert survey dala are 

ar?ilable. Listcd as being prescn! in the Mono and Od rivers 

and Mare at Kini Kope (Wairkuwait 1989). 

Management and Conservstion Programs: See C. 

cataphroctu,s acco[ t abo\a, 



30

Wild Population Status: l-u*nown 

Management hogram: E. l-cropping 

Contact: Mr. Agbenuna Dogbe-Tomi 



Nile crocodile (Crocodyl6 

Uganda 

niloticus) 

Strtus of Wild Populationsr No rccent survey da|a arc 

available. Inlensive hunting and emdica[on efforts severely 

reduced population levels during the 1940s through the 1960s. 

coodpopulations existedFiorto tlle e.arly l9?0s in lhe Kabalega 

FaIs National Park (formerly Murchisofl Falls; Parker and 

Watson 1970, Cott and Pmley 1972). An oulbreak ofcivit war 

led !o much poaching throughout the counEy, but rcmnanl 

populatlons werc siill found at Kabalega Falls and lhe Kidepo 

valey Narional Park (Pooley 1982). 

Managemenl and Conservation Progamsl Klcmm and 

Navid ( 1989) report dnr licensed huntrng was permillcd under 

rhc Fish and Crocodiles Act of 1951. Pooley (1982) repof€d 

ttnt hunring was banrcd in 1979. 



Wild Populalion Status: l-unknown 

MaMgement Program: Clegislation 

Dwarf crocodile (OJ teoleamus tetrsspis) 

A single individual was reported from Uganda (Grombridgc 

1982). No olher informanon isknown. 

Contac! Dr. Eric Edroma 




Zaire 


(C r o c o d! I u s c ats p hr ac tu s) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent survey daLa are 

available from Zarre. Behra (1987b) suNeyed lhe Ubangui 

Rivcr, which borden with the Congo and (he CenFal African 

Republic. Correcled densiiies in this rivcr ranged from 0.3 -2.4/ 

km along thc Congo border, and 4.1,&m along dre CAR border. 

Management snd Conservation Programs: Hundng is permitred 

udder license (Klenm and Navid 1989). 


Survey Dala: I-no suvey planned 


Management Program: E.l-cropping 

Nife crocodile (C.ocodylus niloticus) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recenl survey data arc 

available fton within ZaG. l-ocal authorides s6ted in 1980 

tha! the species was rare in estuaries but locally common and 

well protecbd in some areas (Pmley 1982). Behm (198?b) 

surveyed the thangui River which borders with dle Congo and 

th€ Central Af.ican Republic. Correctcd densities in this river 

Enged from 1.4-3.7,/km along the Congo border, and 7.6/tn 

along the CAR border. A new popularion ofapFoximately 40- 

45 crGodiles (all under 2.5 m) was discovered in $e Semliki 

River and in Lake Edward (Virunga National Park) about 100 

km above the Somliki fals. Historically, croodiles were 

unlnown from this area. The population is repo(ed to be stable 

(verschuren et al. 1989). 

Management and Conservation Programs: Nile crocodiles 

arc protected by a 1968 ordinance that prohibits commerco ln 

crocodrles without pcrmission. Hunting liccnses are issued by 

the Depanment of Agriculture, which collects a set fee pcr skin 

eoohy 1982). 


Survey Dat : I-no survoy planned 

Wild Populahon Statu.s: l-unknorvn 

Managemcnt Program: E. l-cropping 

Dwarf crocodile (O.r leolaemus tetraspis) 

Stalus of wild Populations: No recent survey data are 

available. 

Management and Conservation Programs: h is not known 

if legislation peiaining to C . ca4phractus znd C. niloticus a\so 

applies to this spe.ies. 

Coun.Iy Rating 


wild Populatron Statusr l-unknown 

Managem€ni PrograJn: A'no information 

Contact: Dr. Mankolo ma Mbaclele 

Slender-snouled crocodile 

Nilc crocodile 

Zambia 

3l


(C r o c o dy I u s c at a phr ac tu s) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent suvey dala are available. 

The spccies is present in lhe Luapula and Kalungwishi 

rivers, and in lakes Mweru, Mweru Wantipa, and Tanganyika 

(Pooley 1982, Hutton 1989a). Popularion tcvels in take 

Tanganyika arc apparendy very low (CITES 1989). 

Management and Conservation Programs: The hunrinS of 

crocodiles in Zambia was rcgulared by license under rhe National 

Parks and Wildlife Acr of 1 8 (Klemm and Navid 

1989). All crocodile hunting was banned in 1987 by presidential 

decree, 


Survey Data: I no suvey planned 

Wild Population Starus: l-unknown 

Management Prograrn: Clegislarion only 

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus nilolicus\ 

Wild Population Satus: 4depleted/wlnerable 

Managcmcnl Program: E.2-ranching. E.l{mpping 

Status of Wild Populations: Exlensivc surveys have been 

conducted in several parLs of Zambia. Crccodiles arc rcponed Contact: Dr. M.P. Simbotwc, Keirh Ashorwood. Peter 

to b€ widcspread throughou{ the counrry, but densiries are Taylor, Dr. Jon M. Hutton 

gready reduccd in seltled areas. The Luangwa Rivcr has b€en 

surveyed six dmes belween l9?2 and 1986, and dese surveys 

indicate a shble, highdensiry populalion ( 13.?/km in 1972 and 

14.8,em in 1986). Howard (1989) estimaled l}lc population 

Zimbabwe 

of 

crocodiles along 246 km of the Luangwa numbcrcd 3,587. Nile crccodile 

Tolal crocodile populalion size in Lake Mwenr Wanripa in 

1980 was estimared to bc 4,46r'buittath C. niloticus and C. 

catalhrottt s \|erc jnclu.ded. Since that time, heavy hunling 

Nile crocodile (Croco dylus niloticus) 

pressurc (legal and illcgal) and egg collccrion has resulrcd in a Staaus of Wild Populations: Crccodilos are found in rwo 

subslrntial decline inpopulalion size (Hu[on 1989a). distincl arcas in Zimbabwe. The largest poputation occu$ in 

A night survey ofl-aftc Tanganyika in Sumbu National park the northem region of the country in drc Zambezi River, pan of 

found a densily of 2.04m (mostly adulrs), and locatcd 56 nesrs which has b€en damned !o form Lake Kariba. A smaller 

along 68 km of shorcline. Crocodilc nunbers are low and most crocodile population is located in $e lowveld region of southsstem 

Zimbabwe. Crocodile populations ttave increas€d 

nests arc destroyed outside protecied arcas on the lalc. An 

aerial survey of40 km of lhe Zambezi rivcr in 1988 spotrcd 173 

substantially in suilable areas since the early 1960s (Child 1987, 

crocodiles along rhe proteclcd Zimbabwe sborc but only thrcc Hu.ton 198D. 

along the seldcd Zambian side 0juiton 1989a). 

The total crocodile population in Zinbabwe in 1982 was 

Nighl counts along six km of thc Kafue River in 1981 esnmalcd ro be 50,000. wi$ approximarely 40,000 being found 

cstimatred a mcan density of 16.334m (CITES 1989). in (he Zambezi Rivcr and Lato Kariba (Taylor er al. 1982). 

Taylor ( 1987) calculalcd a crude density of 5.59 crocodiles/km 

Management and Cons€rvation Programs: Considered io ofshoteline for l-akc Kariba for the pcriod 1982- 1985, resulting 

be a game animal under the Nalional Parks and Wildlifo Act. in a crude population esrimate of approximatoly I I,Om croco- 

for the enlirc lake. Using conecrion factors $e roral 

Hunling of Nilc crocodiles requircsa license and thcpossessiondiles 

of hidcs requires a ccnificare of ownership. Appmximatcly popula(ion was calculard lo be nearly 32,000, bur Taylor 

I ,000 crocodiles were legally croppcd in kle Mwcru Wantipa (1987) concludes that the actual population size is somewh€re 

in 1980, bu! cropping was disconrinued undl 1985. when rho between these two figures. No counts have b€on made !o 

Zambian population was conditionally rransferred !o CITES eslimalc the size of lh€ crocodile population in rhe Zambezi 

Appcndix lI and a quora of 2,000 was established. In 1987, River bclow Lake Krriba as this population is nor exploited 

following $e successful application for an annual quora of (Hutton 1987). Thc crocodile populalion in rtle lowvetd region 

2,000 crocodiles, the hunring of crocodiles was banncd by rhe of soulhcastem Zimbabwc is possibly less than 4,000 (Hutton 

Presidenl of Zambia (Hutton 1989a). Spo( (safari) hunring is 1987). 

still bcing considered as a viable managemcnt altemarive. A1 

the 1989 CITES confercncr. Zambia indicated ftar it woutd 

continue with a limited amount of cropping, includiog the 

rcmoval of nuisance crocodiles (Hemley 1989). 

Zambia currendy has seven crocodile mnches, but ranching 

success bas been very mixed (Hufion 1989a). A! the 1989 

CITES conference the Zanbian crocodilepopulaUon was tsansfered 

to Appendix II under the ranching criteria, so no CITES 

impos€d limirations ofcxports are in effecL The 1989 egg quota 

is l8,m0andis dividedamong rhetanchesas follows: Krsaba 

Bay Crocodile 2,5004.r. (Irte Tanganyika), Lake Tmpicals 

Limiled 2,000/yr. (kke Mweru'Wantipa), Luwanga Crocodile 

Ran€h 5,50ryF. Guangwa. Lunga, and Kabompo rive6),Ikriba 

Crocodil€ and Fish Ranch 2,000 a. (Kafuo River and lower 

Zambezi), Sumbu Crocodile Ranch 2,000,5,r. (I-ak€ Kariba), 

Kalimba Crocodile Ranch 2,000/yr. (Luangwa, Lukusashi, and 

Lunenfwa rivers), Siansorva Crocodile Ranch 2,000/yr. (l-ake 

Kariba). All ranches are requircd to release 5-10% of the 

cr&odiles that rcach a lenglh of 50 cm. 



Managementand Conservation Programs: Zimbabwe's 

32

populalion of Nile crocodiles was transferred lo CITES Appcn_ 

dix lI pursuant to Rosolution Conf. 3.15 (ranching crite.ia) nr 

1983. Managementofqocodiles in zimbabwe isbasedon nonconsumpdve 

us€ (tourist value), a small Eophy hunnng prograrn, 

a large-scale rarching prog.am based on (he annual 

collection of eggs from (he wild, and a smaller-scale farming 

program using p.oblem animals caught from the wild as bre€deN. 

Crocodiles are fully protecled in all natiorul parks and in 

the Ngezi Recredtional fuea, but the collection of egSs fo( 

ranching programs is permined in all Safad Areas and other 

arws under the cont ol of 6e DeFrtmentofNatlonal Parks and 

Wild Lifo Managemem (Child 1987). Pres€nily, 14 crocodile 

ranches are in operalion. Each nnch is assigned a yearly quota 

of eggs and a specified area for egg collection. Most of lho 

ranches are located in the nonh and collect from the hke 

Kariba are3, but some smatl ranches have starled in the lowveld 

also. Eggs aro collected as early as possible during incubalion, 

and are incubated in vermicolile in SbTofoam boxes inside 

insulal€d buildrrgs ar approximatoly 32' C. original tegulations 

required mrch€s !o rcurln l0% of [h0 crocodiles re€rcd to 

I m long back inio fie wild, but this pmporoon was later 

reduced to 5%. A total of910 animals we.o released inlo the 

wild. but in recenr years this has not b€€n done as crocodile 

populatrons wor€ increasing naturally. 

The l,otal aduh breeding siock reponed in 1984 was 278 

Famed eggs accounted for at least m% of &e eggs obtaincd 

during fteperiod f979-1983. Halching success of farmed and 

ranchcd eggs has generally boen high (70{0%; Child 198?) 

Crocodies are rsred primarily in conctete pells to a tolal 

length ofapproximately 1.5 m. Belly and homback skins arc 

salted and prepared fc export raw (untanned). No marketexisls 

for the me3! so the eviscerated carcass€s are fed back to lhe 

cmcodiles. Crocodile heads and fe€t are made into curios for 

sale !o tourisls (Child 198?). 


Survey Data: trI-bsic survey dalz 

\tr'ib Population Starus: 5-not deple@d 

ManagementProgram: E.2-ranching, E.3-farming 

Contscl I. Games, Dr. Jon M. Huuon, Dr. John P. Lovendge, 

Kevin van Jaarsvold! Dr. Chris Foggin, Roben Gee 

33


Asia 

Australia 

Australian freshwatcr crocodile 

Saltwalcr crocodile 

Australian freshwater crocodile 

(Crocodtlus johnsoni) 

Status of Wifd Populations| Crocod))lrs johnsoni B ^ medium-sizcd 

Australian endcmic rcsricred primarily to frcshwa, 

ter habitats. Population dcnsilies vary significantly berwe€n 

areas, but lhe overall population size in the Northem Tcnitory 

was estima@d by Webb er a]. (1987) ro be in dle 30,m060.000 

range. In Weslcm Australia, freshwatcr cr6odiles are reslicled 

to the Kimberly region, but are rcponed to be abundant. 

Al{hough there was widespread huntinS in fie pdsr (Buslard 

1970), some rernole populalions may never havc been hunted 

(Burbidgc 1987). Recenl survcys conm issioncd by l}te Departmenl 

of Cons€rvalion and Land Managomcnl resulre.d in esrinalEs 

of 35,?00 C. jolrrrri in ihe Ord and FirJoy Riven and 

the large impoundmcnls associated wirh rhem. The lotal 

populadon is thoughl to be in excess of 50,000 (c. Webb, in lin. 

May 29, 1990). Thc species has been lcrmed "abundanr" in 

Que€nsland, although no sysremadc survcys of ihe popularion 

have bccn undertrkcn (Taplin 1987). 

Management and Conservation Programs: This species is 

proFcted $roughour its distriburion in norrlcm Ausralia. 

Exportof crocodiles orcrocodilianproducrs is prohibit€d under 

the Wildlife hotection Gegularion of Exporls and tmporls) 

Act of 1982. In the Norlhcm Te'Iitory,1,532 C. johnsoni 

hatchlings were harveslcd in 1980-1981 during inirial field 

6tals (Webb d al. 1987, Conscnarion Commission of the Tehnf.l.ns yeieh . wlfd frcshe.ter mcodilq Cm.aArht joi^'aai, 

Norlhcm Teffilory (CCNT) rr M.Kinley Rh€r, Northern le.r,rory,,{ustr.lti (Phoro 

1989). In 1982, 

bt 

4,573 werc harvcstcd 

in a commcrcial,scale trial in eighi managcment areas 

CJ,W. 

split between lhc crocodile farms. The exrenl of fte annuat 

harvesr has varicd from ye3r lo ycar, with a total of 19,506 

hatchlings being harvested bcrween 1980 and 1989 (Webb et al. cggs were taken for incubarion experiments in 1989 (Webb et 

198?, CCNT 1989, Manolis and Wcbb 1990, Wcbb cl al. al. 19mb). 

1990a). 

Population moniloring in rhe harchling and egg collecling 

A commcrcial egg colleclion program iniliarcd in 1983 areas is being carried out by noctumal spodighr counts and 

re\ul|€d in I.5oieggsbcinghxêsred.andailo$edacompanson hclicopter surveys during the annual dry season. To dala, 

of the merits of egg harvesting versus halchling collection. In resulb indica@ lhat populalions havo conlinued !o increasc 

somc areas egg harvcsring is more cfficient, and between I 983 regardless of thc harvest (CCNT 1989, Webb er al. 1990b). The 

dnd 1989, 8,532 eggs have becn harvesFd from ftc managemen! developmcnl oflhe management program for rhis sp€cies in fie 

areas (CCNT 1989, Webb cl al. 1990b) and an additional 787 Norlhem Terrilory has b€en accompanied by, and is based on, 

34

a large-scale rescarch progam, which has investigated many 

aspccls of the e.ology of l.his sp€lies (for summary s€€ Webb 

or al. 1987). 

Four crocodrle farms in ahc Northem Territory and lwo in 

Queensland are cunently re ingc . johnsoî. Most farms rely 

largely on witd-produced young, but at Crocodile Farms N.T. 

25 nests wcre laid in 1987,22 in 1988, and 23 in 1989 (webb 

and Manolis 19m, Webb et al. 1990b). The lotal caplivo stock 

in the Northem Tcrritory farns in 1983 was 6,777 (luxmoore 

eral. 1985). and in 1989 was 9,1830vebb et al. 1990b). 


Survey Dala: Iv-widespread suley data 

Wild Population Status: 5 not depleled 

Management hog]am: E.2-lanching, E.3'farming 

S.lt{rt4 qNdllq Cdadrturr'mrlr, on .6@odll€ f.m In lhe 

Northern Tcnlto.t, Austrdl. (Photo bt G.J.W. Webb), 

Saltwater crocodile (Crocodllus porosus) 

Statos ofwild Populationsi Onc of the most extensive census 

prognms for any species of wildlifc was conducled for C. crocodrles and 9.77, per ycar whcn only non'hatchlings wcrc 

prrorrs by th€ Universily of Sydney, wifr assisunce from considered. 

State and Territory govcmmcnts. The surveys were uken in thc ToLai population si/c in tJle Nonhem Teri(Cl'y was variously 

estimaDd !o be 12,0(}) non'hatchlings (Messel and 

lialal waterways of northem Australia by Mcsscl and co-work' 

ers, The results of these surveys have boen published as a serics vorlicok 1989b) to at lcast 30,000 and "probably closer to 

of 20monogaphs(Messel etal. 1978-1987). From 1975-1979 40,fi)0" (hatchlings, non-hatchlings, and caplivexwebb et al. 

approximately 100 rivcr systcms were systematrcally survcyed 1984). Much ofrhis difference resulted from different interpretations 

of $c number of crocodiles in unsurveyod habitats, and 

in the Nonhcm Tcrritory, westem AusEalia, and Queensland 

(Mcsscl et al.l98l -monograph I ). Thcse ar€as were resuryeyed fic inclusion of halchlingsandcapliveanimals 

lhc cstimales 

during 1980- 1987 (Messel and Vorlicek 1989b). The results of ofwebb cl at. (1984). 

thesc survcys have provided considcrable information not only Populauons in Weslem Ausual|a are strady or incrcasing 

on population status, but on behavior and ccology as well. The some rivcrs (Messel el al- 1987, Monograph 20). Messel and 

Conservation Commission of $e Northcm Tefrilory b€gan vorlicek ( I 989b) eslimaled fie 1979 non-harchling populaton 

suppodng e4ological invcsligadons in the late 1970s, and has in thc Kimberley region to be 2,500. In Q'reensland. crocodilcs 

continued an exrcnsivo sLrvey-monitoring progmm since $al are nill widespread andcommon,buLpopulat'on rccovcrysince 

time. Queensland Nalional Parks and Wildlifc Scrvice and the protection has nol been as great as in thc Nordem Territory 

Westem AusEalian Department of Conservation and Land (Taplin 1990). Messcl and Vorlicek (1989b) estimaled the 

Mxnagemenl have bolh (ontinucd\ome monilodnE. 1979 non-halchling population to be 3,000 in northcm 

An extensive survey database now exists for C. po.orrr Queensland. Allhough morc rcccnl survey alata fiom Quccnsland 

within AusFalia, csp€cially in the Nonhcm Terri1ory. Within are availablc (faplin 19m), no reviscd cslimate of loial popu' 

ddal riverine habitats in the Norlhem Terilory, spotlighl counl lalioo has bccn offered. Habilat loss on fie Qucensland eastem 

dala now span somc 15 years. During thc carly 1980s some coast ls now a maJorconcern. 

recovery was notcd or cerlain rivcr sysiems (e.g. Alligator 

River region and the Adelaide Rivcr system), atd a 1984 non Managem€nt and Conservation Programs: Full pro@ction 

hatchling population cstimate for $e No(hem Teni0ory was for thc sallwarr crocodile began in 1971 in Westem Australia, 

12,000, up 2,000 from 1979. Populations from the Adelaidc 1972 in r.\e Nodhem Tenitory, and 1974 in Quccnsland 

River westward !o th€ Westem Australia border were found !o (Groombridge 1982). A nalional ban on import and expo( 

be slable or decreasing in number. Populations in the Gulf of began in 1972 (Messel, pers. comm.). Extensive field and 

Carpentaria (apan from the Roper and Towns dvers), were laboralory res€arch in!o vinually all asp€cts of the biology ofC. 

considercd b be near exlinction level (Messel et al. 1978 ,orrs&! have been conducied by Messel and co-workers of the 

19{i7). 

Univcrsity ofSydney, and more rcccndy by lhe Conscrvalion 

However, by the nid-1980s, a gcncral re4overy trend was Commission oflhe Norlhcm Tenitory. As a rcsutl, C. polortr.r 

evident. Webb e1al. (1989) considcr tnal populalion recovery is one of the best-known crocodilians from an ecological 

began widin the first 2'5 years aftcr prole.lion of the popula slrndpoint. Becausc of l}|c effective prolection of wild populalions 

and fic large-scale rcsearch and management progmm, 

lion ,n lq7l. Although cro(odile den.rlies bclsccn ritcr 

syslems were highly variable, an analysis of dala for the tidal lhc Australian population was moved from CITES Appendix I 

river population as a whole, spanning 14 years (1975-1988), 1o Ap[Jendix II in 1985. The eshblishmcnt of Kakadu Nalional 

showed a mean annual increa-se of 8.37, per year for "all" Park was a major cooservation achjevcmcnl for crocodiles. 

35

landownerpanicipation in the egg collection Fogram (Vr'ebb et 

al. 1987, Manolis and Webb 1990). 

Problem or nuisance crccodiles arc captued alive and distributed 

among commercial crocodile farms or relocated. In the 

two calendar years 1988 al,d 1989,278 problem C. porosus 

wer€ dealt wilh: 221 wenr ro farms, 52 were wore relocared in 

the wil4 4 died at capNre, and I was shol 

Presently there are eight commercial C. prroszi farms in 

Australia (four in the No(hem Territory, threo in Queensland, 

and one jn Weslem Australia). Five are operating as ranches, 

obtaining wild slock as hatchlings (from egg colleclion) or 

adulls (pmblem animals). However, captivo brceding is occurring 

at several farms. At Crocodile Fams N.T., 4t C, porosus 

nests were laid during the 1986- 1987 nosling season, of which 

3? wcrc in 1987-1988,and6t in 1988-1989. TheEdwardRiver 

Farm (csablished 1973) in Qucensland began as a conservarion 

progam, and originally most of its 

C.pture animals were released 

olsaftv.ter cmodrrq Crc.o.blut po,o'd, back 

tor re*.rcn, 

llardes c.mk, Nrth*r Ter.lro.t, inlo 

Anstntt.. Co tnu€d nonttortng thc wild. In 1979, ranching operarions ceased and rhe furm 

.nd r€srch provlde lhe brsls ld .o.rrclllng qptolr.rlm rl l becamo the first closed-cycle broeding openrion in AusIlalia. 

susrih.bte revel inAusrrdlt (Pnob bt GJ.w. webb). 

Commercial operation began in 1984 (Luxnoore et al. 1985). 

The Conscrvation Commission of lhe Nonhem Torrilory 

has designed reguladons for the prepamtion of crocodilo meat 

and lhe monitoring of skin and meat commerce. Thc first skins 

This park contains the largcs! sysrem of crocodite breeding were cxp,oned from the Northcm Territory in 198?. Shns go 

rivers in norrhcm Ausrralia, and has been the site of rtrc most mostly to lhe Japanese market, while mca! is consumedomesdcally 

(Manols and Wcbb 1990). 

significant populalion rccovery (Messel c! at. 1986, Mono 

graph 19). 

Until recendy, management of C. polrrrr in Westem Auslmlia 

was based on the prorecrion of wild popularions and had Survey Dat4 Iv-widespread survey data 


no uti li4Ljon com pone nl { B urbridge lq87r. Ho$ever,alrrmil Wild Population Status: 4-depleted/wlnemble 

for lhe eshblishmenl of one commercial ranching operation at Mamgement Program: E.2,ianching, E.3-farming 

Wyndham was re.enlly issucd. Aside from thc presence of 

pnvately owncd commercial farms, crocodile managcmcnt in Contact: John Bacbe, Melvin Bolton, Harvey Cooper,Presron, 

Queenslandhas nocommcrcial conponenr (Taplin 1987). To Warren Entsch, lIarry J. Freeman, hol Gordon Grigg, Robert 

deal wirh the increasing number ofcomplainB fiom thepublic, W.G. Jerkins, Bill Freeland, Dr. Colin Linpus,John Lever, S. 

a problcn crocodile program was inilialcd along rhe populatcd Charlie Manolis, hof. Hary Messel, J.T. VicrorOnions, Dr. 

easlem cmst (Taplin 1990). Messel er al. (Monographs 16 John Shield. Dr. crahame J.W. Webb 

(1981), 20 (1987)) has srongly recornmendcd lhc establishmcnt 

of marine parks in borh of thesc sIaies. 

Afier the rcclassificalion of Ausralian C. parcsus onto 

CITES Appendix II. a ranching program was begun in the 

Norlhem Tenitory. This program is bascd on lhe collection of 

eggs. Expe.imenlal hrvcsis werc conductcd in 1983-1984 

(994 eggs), 1984-1985 (3.517 esgs) and 1985-1986 (3,470 

cggs). Follow-up sporl ight surveys found no negarive impacts 

on populalion size ofjuvenile crocodilcs (Webb et at. 1989). 

Egg harvests in more rcccnl year. have becn: t 986- 19874,293 

cggs, 19137-1988 4,509 eggs (Manolis and Webb 1990). Thc 

eggs are incubated by rcsearch sraff of the Conservarion Commission. 

Because no ncgarivc impacb on wild flopulations 

wcre no0ed, lhe cgg collection program was expandcd in rhc 

1988-1989 season. with 6,497 cggs (roial viable and nonviable) 

collected (Wcbb cl al. 1990b). To da!c. collections havc 

beer experimcntal in nalure and havc bcen ca.ried our by rhe Skhnlng f.rm.d craodtte rr Ed*.rds 

(-onservarion 

Rtve. qeod € frm, 

Commission. witi lhc sale olharhljngs to Lrocodile 

farmspaying for the research. Plans now allow increased aborlglnrls (Photo br GJ.W. 

Quenslrnd, Ausrrdla. Thh hodet frrm provtd6 ehptoymcnl 16 t@l 

webb). 

36

Matragementand Conservation Prcgrams: Protectcd by the 

1973 Wildlife hescrvation Acl (Klemrn a Navid 1989). 


Survey Data: l-no suwcy Planned 

wild Population Slatus: 3-severely depleted,/endangcrod 

Managemen! Prograrn: C-legislation 

C6drla' peotsll.L^tn9,No.lhernT.nlldt'Au$r.ll' snmsrtrl 

bn.dins .nd lMb.ilon oa ottlr€ crocodlld It tt. bNi! or nrnv 

atmlIs .nd r.nchl.s p..arn3 (Phoro br cJ.w. w€bb). 

Muggo. 

Saltwater crocodilo 

Gharial 

Bangladesh 

l][,.ugger (C r o c o dy I u s p al u s ti s ) 

Gh^rial (Gafi alis gdnge tic us) 

Status of wild Poputatiors: Wltit ker (1986) rcpons that 

small breeding populations of gharial romain in the Padma and 

Jamuna nvers in Rajahahi District. Rahnan (in li[t. Oct. 22, 

1985) reported dlal on the basis of noctumal coun6, approrr' 

ma@ly m addlt ghanal remain in fie Padma, and only a few 

survive in theJamuna. Rahnan (1990) lisrs lhe populadon of 

gharial in the Padma, Jamuna, and Brahmaputra rivers n 

Bangladesh as 2 adult males, l2 adult femal€s, and 6 juvcniles. 

Two broeding groups werc tcpo(ed on the Padma, and during 

the p€riod 1982-1985, a lotal of 12 nests was found. Gharial 

drown in fishing nets, and eggs are dug up and desEoycd 

(Rahman 1985). 

Management and Conservation Programs: Gharial are 

protected by lhe 1973 wildlife Preservation Act (Klcmm and 

Navid 1989). Plans were bcing made in tho mid'1980s l,o 

establish a protected enclosure for gharial broeding at fte mouth 

Ststus of Wild Populations: No recent survcy dala arc of the Baral River, a tribuhry of the Padma (Rahman 1985), but 

available. This species is thouSht to be virtually extirparcd in this project apparendy was never undenaken for lack of funaLng. 

the wild, bui approxima@ly 10 individuals renain in a pond in 

a stuine in $e Khulna District (Whilaker 1982, 1986). Reproductlon 

was (epo(ed in |his pond (the Pecr KhanJahan Ali Pond Survcy Data: I'no survey planned 


in Bagerhat) by Rahman (1990), who repons tho prEsence of an wild Populalion Starus; 3-severely depleted/endangered 

adult pairand fourjuveniles. whitaker and Whilaker (1989b) Management Program; Clegislation 

list the bl.al wild population in Bangladesh ff five. 

Contact: Md. Mokhlesur Rahman. Dr. Mod A. Reza Khan 

Managem€n3 and Conservation Programs: Muggers arc 

protecied by lhe 1973 Wildlife Preservation Acl (Klemm and 

Navid 1989). Rhanan ( 1990) reports a small brceding group (2 

malos, I female) in lhe Dhaka Zoo. 

Bhutan 

Ghadal 


Survey Data: I-no survcy planned 

Wild Populadon Stalus: 3-sevcrely depleted/cndangered Gh^rial (G aialis gsngeticus) 


Status of Wild Populations: No reccnt survey data aro 

availablc. The gharial w3s hisloricalty found in lho Manas 

River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, in Bhulan. A survey by 

Saltwater crocodile (Crccodylus porosus) 

Buslard (1980) suggests that rhis species has bcen extirpaled, 

Statusof Wild Populations: Whitaker(1986) shtes that small although a I .5 m long individual was releascd in the Manas in 

numbcrs of this species survive in the mangove forcsls of the 1977. The last adult wa-s reponedly soen in 1964 

sundarbans. Akonda (in litr May 4, 1990) circd a 1982 report 

by Khan wilh a tolal population figure of200 for the S un&rbans, Malagement and Cons€rvation Programs: No information 

and fiat crocodiles havo been reported from the coaslal nvers is available. 

of Barisal and Chillagorg, including Chakaia Sundarbans 

Rahman (1990) estimatcd a much smaller population of C. Country Rating 

porosls in tie Sunderbans (10 adullmales,22 adult females, Survey Data: I-no survey Planned 

and 8juveniles). 

wild Population Status: 2-extirpatcd 

31

ManagementPrognn: A-no informadon 

Contact: Mr. copal Mahal 

Saltwalu crocodile 

Brunei 

Saf twate. crocodile (Crocorlylus porosus) 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent survcy aiara are 

available. King er al. ( 1979) reporied that sca €red specjmens 

of C. porosr.u werc scen in coaslal mangrove and Nipa patm 

swamps, Thc Sianes€ crcrodile, C. Jiarrrrir, wal reponed to 

be.ridespread in the Indoncsian islands, including Bomeo, by 

Ross (1986), but no substantiated records from Brunci exist. 

Manag€ment and Conservation Programsr Legal sralus of 

cmcodiles is uncerlain, bur they arc apparently unprolected 

(Klemm and Navid 1989). The purchase of young crocodiles 

by operalors of commercial rearing stations was rcfloned by 

King et al. (1979). 

part of the century. Appmximarely 2,000-3,m0 specimens of 

C . sionansb &ercWrl€d b be oxprcned live !o crocodile farms 

in Thailand (R. Luxmoore, peN. comm.) indicating that some 

* ild populalionsstill exist. An I UCN conservarion prograrn in 

Cambodia is gathering information on distriburion. 

Managehent and Conservation Programs: Unlnown. 



Wild Population Status: t,unknown 

Management Progran: B-none 

Contact: Mr. Chan Samn, Dr. Rick Sallcr 

China (People's Republic of) 

Chincsc alligator 

Satwater crocodile 

Chinese alligator (.{ltigator sinensis\ 

Status of Wild Populations: Tbe present disFiburion of fiis 


specics is limited 10 rhe lower Yangtze River, principally in 

Survcy Data: ho survey planncd 

Xuanchcng, Zhejiang, and Jiangau hovinces, which represonls 

wild Population Status: l-unknown 

approximatcly one-tonth of irs formcr distribulion (Waranabe 

Management Prcgram: B,none 

and Huang 1984). The lotal wild popularion size in rhe 

Xuancheng rcgion was cslimared to be only 300,500 and 

de.lining (Watanabc and Huang 1984). A 1983 counl by 

rescarch workers in seveml counties estimated total DoDulalion 

sr,/e ro b{ 5m (Chen Igma'. 

Cambodia 

Habitat destruction has been the most imlonant faclor 

Saltwater crocodile 

contributing ro rhe decline of Chinese alligaror popularions. 

Howcvcr, alligators have also b€cn widely kitted as agricullural 

pesti, for food, for hidc or medicinal products, and in poisoning 

campaigns aimed ar eradicating blood flukes (Chcn 1990a). 

Saltwater crocodile (Cro codllus porosus) Climatic changc may havc played an important role in the 

Status of Wild Populations: No re.cnr suney dara 

extirpation of the 

are 

alligalor from lhe northem part of its hisrorical 

availablc. Virtually norhing is known 

range. 

conceming 

Rcccnt 

crocodilians 

floods and droughn have atso made certain 

in $is counfy. 

habila$ uninhabirable for alligalors, and environmcnral pollulion 

has had a negaiive effect on prey availability (Chen 1990r). 

Manag€m€ntand Conseryation Programs: The 

Most 

legal 

alligators 

sralus 

arc loday found in agricut!ural communes in 

of this species is unknown. No managemen! progrdms 

lowlying areat, 

arc 

or in isolatcd reservoirs in tree farm communes 

known !o be in opelarion. 

at elevalions below | 00 m. In both of these areas rhe allisators 

crc coexrsring qilh dense humdn populadons. and dris i:s paitially 

facilitarod by rhe alligarors' exrcnsive use of underground 


Survcy Data: I no survoy planne.d 

bunows. Populations of alligaiors in riverine habilaB were 

Wild Population Stalus: I,unknown 

reporled lo be virtually wip€d out by ex@nsivc flooding in 1957 

Managemenl Program: 

(Waranabc 

B-none 

1982). Human poputalion pressures, habirar de_ 

srruclion. and the killing of witd animats take place dcspite rhe 

legal prorc.don of thc species (Waranab€ and Huang 1984). 

Siamese crocodife (Cro cotlylus siamensis\ 

Of rie eslimaled 500 wild alligarors in 1983, 200 were 

capturcd (Chen 1990a) and an unknown ftacdon of rheso were 

Status of Wild Populations: No rerent survcy dala arc placed in capdvily. Thc collecrion of eggs from rhe wild also 

availablc- The specics' cuffent slalus in Cambodia is unknown, rcveals a downwad rrend in population size (270 eggs collecled 

although extensivc habiiat exists around fie Tonlc Sap (grcar in 1982,278 eggs in 1983, 154 eggs in 1984, and 85 eggs in 

lake). According to Smilh (1931) ir was common in lhc carly 1985), and few of these eggs were reporred to hatch normally 

38

(Chen 1990a). However, in Xuancheng, Nanling, and Jingxian Saf twater crocodite (Crccodylus porosus) 

couniies, alligalor reproducuon has be€n observcd and the wild 

Ststus of Wild Pop ations: Thc prosence of this spccies in 

populalions are reportcd to be recovering. 

China is based on hisbrical records. No curenl infomation is 

available on lhcir status- Pope (1935) considered $e crocodile 

Manrgement and Conservation Programs: Alligalors are an 

already extirpaIed from China, but Whihker ( 1982) suggesls a 

officially protected specics in China (Klemm and Navid 1989). 

remnanl lcw may remain in KqanStun province. 

Agricultu.al communes in southem Anhui province have bccn 

declarcd to be alligator prcserves, but this offcrs, at besl, very 

Management and Consenation Programs: Unknown. 

limited prote.tion (walznabe and Huang 1984). Several caprive 

reanng ccnters have been cslablished; in 1983 a btal of 


seven wcre operational (Luxm(rre et al. 1985). Inidally,some 

Survey Data: I no survey planned 

of thes€ rearing progl8ms were a drarn on wild populations as 

Wild Populalion Status: l-unknown 

farms wcre paying for alljgalors and alligator eggs (Walanabc 

ManagementPrognm: A-no informadon 

and Huang 1984). The largcs( fam is the Xiadu alligalor farm 

in southcm Anhui province, which sEned operations in 1979 

Contact Chen Bihui, Huang Chu-Chein, Li Yangwen, Wang 

and by 1983 had a slock of morc lhan lm adult alligalors. 

Sung, Shih Ying-hsien, Zhang Zhengdong, John Behlcr 

Inidrlly. the only caplive brc{ding being done was in zoo( 

(Shanghai Zoo, Ningpo Zoo), and all of tho farms were relying 

on eggs collected from $c wild. More re.endy capdvc breeding 

has be€n achieved outside the zoos. A1 thc Xiadu farm 

India 

(Anhui Research Ccnler of Alligator Rcproducdon) successtul 

captivc brccding was first atta'ned in 1982, and by t 988 caplivc Mugger 

breeding of s€cond gencmtion caplive aliigaton had bcen Saltwater crocodilc 

reporred, and approximately 800-1,000 young were being Gharial 

hatched cach year (Zhang 1989,Huang 1989). Egg producdon 

has incrcasedramatically sincc 1983: 1983-264 eggs, 1984- 

Mugger (C loco dllu s palustis) 

809 eggs, 1985-809 eggs, 1986-801 eggs. 1987'1,045 cggs, 

1988-1219 eggs (Chcn l990a). Ahhough inilially husbandry Status ofwild Populations: According to Whitaker (1987) C. 

techniques wcrc mlher poor (Wahnabc and Hu3ng 1984), by pdlerr.tr is widely disEibutcd, but populations ate mostly srnall 

1983 $e survival rate of young incrca-sed 1o 957., nesting ratc and isolaled. Total populalion size in India was es[matod by 

had incrcased to 67 E (from 14 %), and eggs had a 907. fenilily whiraker and Whilakcr ( 1989b) to be 2,000-3,000. Two of the 

rate (Zhang 1989). The ,o1al numbe. of captive-producedlargcst rcmaining populations aro in the Gir Sanctuary (Hiran 

alligators in 1987 was 975 (Chen 1990a). 

l-ako, Gujarat State) wilh approximately 30 ncsting fomales, 

The caplive rearing progams are ostensibly conservalion and in fie Amamvathi Reservoir in thc Anamallais Sanctuary 

oriented, but as yeho rcstocking has Laken placc, and indeed no (Tamil Nadu SDte) with 16 ncsling females. hior to the 

mention of future plans for alligalor releases has bccn made in beginning of lhc reintroducdon progmm (se€ below), lhc lotal 

reviews of fte alligalor conservation program (c.9., Chen C. pdllrrraipopulation in Tamil Nadu was ettimatedby Whitaker 

lgma). Extreme human population pressurcs on tho lilde and Danicl (1980) to be no more than 200. lffge populations 

remaining wild habiht make this a difficult undertaking. are also rcponed by Choudhury (p€rs. comm.) to be found in lhe 

Caplive brccding and re.aring of Chincsc alliSarors in the Ranthambore and Jawa rescrvoirs in Rajas$an sta(c. Populations 

in other shtes werc considerably lower. 

United Stales is bcing coordinat€d lhrough lhc Rockefeller 

wildlife Refuec (I-ouisiana) and $e New York Zlological 

Socicty (Behler and Brazailis 1982). The present (May 1990) Management and Cons€rvation Programs: All tkee species 

sludbook populatron of animals ouLside of China numbers 123 of crocodilians were prclcctcd in 1972 under $c Wildlife 

animals. Of r.hese, 84 (5 males, 19 fcmalcs, and 60 juveniles) Prote.tion Act. which forbade hunting and exports. Radfication 

and implementatlon of rhis act was delayed for up !o l0 

arc prescnt in 13 North Amcrjcan collections, This spccics has 

bean repeal,edly bred at the Bronx Zoo, Rockefellcr Wildlifc ye3rs ifl somc sl.alcs (whitaker 1987). Beginning in 1975 the 

Refuge, ard at thc St. Augustine Alligalor Farm in Florida, govcmment of India embarked on a milestonc conservalion 

U.S.A. Thc New York Zoological Socic(y is cunently explor program for its thrcc species of crocodilians. With technical 

ing the possibiliry of exchanging young produced in U.S. support from FAO (undl 1982), the progran focused on fie 

institudons foranimals harhed on Chinese farm since dre U.S. collcction ofeggs from wild nests, and the rcaring of the young 

popDlaiion is derivcd from only seven foundcrs (J. Behler, pers. in captivity. Afier attaining a size of approximalely I-1.5 m 

btal lcngdr lie animals arc releas€d into prote.lcd areas to 

speed populatron rccovery. The initral rccovery efforts for C. 


/dl6rlir wcrc made by collecling eggs in the states of Cuajaral 

Survey Data: Ill-basic survcy clala 

and Tami I Nadu in coopration with personnel ftom fic Madras 

wild Population Status: 3-s€verely dcplcted/endangercd Crocodile Bank. hior io 1984, 9,00) C. pdllslrireggs had been 

Managemenl Program: 8.3-farming 

collecred (S ingh et al. 1986a). Captive bre€ding of lhis species 

39

has also been accomplished at 25 differenl zoos and re3ring populaiions still remain in pans of tho Nicobars (Whitrker 

ccnters throughout India (Choudhury, pers. comm.). Acrording 

to Whialer and Whitaker ( 1989b), by 1986 a toral of33m+ 

1987). 

juvedlos had been poduced thrcugh captive breeding and Management and Conserration Programs: C. porosus is 

4,775+ through the egg collecrion program. By 1984 approximately 

600 juvenile C. palBrlir had be€n releas€d (Singh er al. head-staning progmm similar to the one for C. pall/Jfir is in 

legally prote.red under the Wildlife Protc.tion Act of 1972. A 

1986a), and for 1990 this figure is 1,000+ (Choudhury, pers. etlectfor C. porosus. Centgrs for C prlrflr conservation were 

comm.). Present captive stock numbers in excess of 15,0m established in the Bhitarkanita National Pa* (Orissa), as well 

(Whitaker 190). Resightingsof muggerrclea.scd in the Similipal as in Port Blair (An&man Islands), and adjaceni !o rhe 

Preservc in Orissa haveranged from 12. 1% in tho Budhabalanga Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. Thc princip3l functions of these 

River lo 34.7% in the West Deo River lo 71.6% in lhc Khairi cenlef was 10 locaae C. pr,'ostJ nests, collect eggs, and rcar the 

River Oased on March 1990 rcports; Rath er al. 1990). young for restocking prog:ams. By 1984, caprive bre€ding had 

Many of the muggor crocodiles used in rctease programs been attempted at five breeding centers, and had been successful 

at tro: the Bhagabatur in Wesr Bengal and the Madms 

tlroughout India have originared from the sourhem sraie of 

Tamil Nadu. This activity was quesrioned on genctic grounds Crocodilc Bank in Tamil Nad'r. As of 1984 a toral of 2,5OC C. 

b€causo it could result in the inlcmixing of geographically poroxw eggs had b€en hdndled, and 415 crocodiles released 

distinct forms. However, as the fi^t priority ofrhe program was back into the wild (Singh er al. 1986a). This work har conrinued, 

and by 1989 a loral of 3,0m eggs had been collecr.d and 

to re-esrablish wild br€fding populalions, and in many areas 

wild populations no longo eristed, ir was fell thar this releas€ I,050 crocodiles rcleased into the Bhira*a ka National Park 

protocol was j ustified (Whitaker and Whitaker 1989a). (Kar 1989). Somo of the released crocodiles began breeding 

A total of 28 national parks, wildlife rc.serves. or crocodile during the 1989 nesting season (Kar 1990a). In 1990, four 

sanctuaries have been designaled in I I stat€s (Madhya hadesh, releascd C. pordrrls nesl,ed (Kar 1990b). Surveys in March 

Ulhr hadesh, Cujaral, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Andra 1990 revcaled that40.0% of tho rcleased crocodiles arc srill in 

Pmdosh, Kerala, Kamataka, Rajasthan, and Maharastra) for the the park. 

management of C. pdturrr1 (Singh et al. 1986b). 

Morc rhan 200 crocodiles ofapproximalely 2 m length aie r.r 

Restocking has decline.d in rccent years, resulting in a large be rolea-sed inlo the Kujang area, a! the delta of the Mahfiadi 

number of excess crccodiles being mainrained at thc caprive River (adjacent!o the Bhitarkanika Narional Park) following 

rqring centers. Thc limited number of rclcase sires as well as the rainy s€ason in 19m (Kar 1990b). Four sites (lhrcc 

f€ars of human-crocodilc conflicts havo bccn the DrinciDal crocodile sanctuarics ard one tiger rescrve) have been designarcd 

as protected areas for the management of C. pdro.rl1r 

caus€ ol the slow-down in rcleas€s (Whrraler and Whilal(er 

1989a, Singh ei al. 1990). Interest is now developing for the (Singh er al. 1986b, Whiraker 1987). 

commercial rearing of this species, bui !o datc rhis has been 

opposed by the govcmment. 


Survey Data: Ill-basic survey alaln 

Wild Population Slatus: 4deplered/vulnerable 

ManagemenL Program. D resro(king,/reinuoduction 

Saf twater crocodif e (C rocodXlus porosus) 

Status of Witd Popnlationst This species was fomerly 

pres€nt in areas of suitable habila! along lhe emirc easlem coas! 

and up (hc vvestem coasto the vicinity ofcochin (Kerala Srare). 

Breeding populalions of C. polrrrr are now reslricled to rhe 

norlieastem coastal rcgion (Orissa and \ry'est Bengal Stalet 

and in fte Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The largcsr known 

population, numbering approximar,ely 450 individuab of aI 

sizes, is located in the Bhitarkanika Sancruary at the mouih of 

the Mahanadi River in Orissa S |atc (R ath er al. 1990). During 

egg collection in 1990. 12 C. po.rrr.! nesrs were locarcd in 

Bhitarkanika (Kar 1990b). In rhe Andaman and LiuteAndaman 

Islands, iemnant populadons are still loca0ed in $e exrreme 

north and west of Nonh An&man, and on a few adjaccnr 

offshore islands, and on the soulhcm and westem coasB of 

Soud Andarnan. A population rcmains in rhe Jarawa Tribal 

Rcserve but cannot bc surveyed at present as local tribes 

controlling the area will not allow enlry. Small bur untouched 

40 


Survey Dala: trI-basic survey dala 

Wild Populalion Status: 3-scvcrely depleled,/endangeEd 

Management Programi D-restockingteintroduclion 

Gharial (G aialis g on geticu s) 

Status of Wild Populations: Prior ro the initiadon of conservation 

efforts in the mid-1970s world populadons of gharial 

werc cxEemely low. Toral population in 19?4 was esumarcd !o 

bc app.oximarl) 250. Since rhal limc lhe release program m 

India has significandy incrcased overall populadon size [o over 

2,500, with 1,000+ alivc in fte wild (Whitrker alld Whitrker 

1989b). The largest gharial fJopularion in India is in the 

National Chambal Sanctuary along rhe Chambal River, which 

is 600 km Iong and.uns through rhe states of Uuar hadesh, 

Madhya Pnalesh, and Rajastan. Surveys in rhe Chambal 

cond&ted by Rao (1988, 1990) indic-ale gharial density has 

increased from l.08^m in 1983,1984 io 1.89^rn in 1988. 

Increases in the numt'er ofnests havc also b€en obscrved. The 

lo1al number of individuals spotled during rhe 198?-1988 

surveys was 8O4. Eggs are collecred for the hcad-srarting 

program but nalural recruitrnent is also raking placc (Rao 1988, 

1990). 

Smaller gharial popularions rcmain in olier paris of India 

inclMing: Katemiyaghat (Ullar Pradcsh), Salhkoshia corge

Conlact: D. Basu, B. C. Choudhurv, Suchait Choudhury ' Dr' 

J.C. Danicl, Chandra Sekhar Kar, Dr. Sudhakar Krr, Dr' R.J. 

Rao. R.L. Rali. Dr.l-ala A.K. Singh. Romulus Wliltcr 

Ghrlrl, C.vt n sara.n !', bredln3 stdk !t Mrdns Crocodll€ Brnk' 

Ind|r Su.c6slol opth€ b.adlng r.d relcr* progrcms h.r. mrde rhe 

luturc or lhk sed6 mce sure (Photo bt Il. AndrcFs). 

Sahwater crocodile 

New Guinea crocodile 

Siamese crocodile 

Tomisloma 

Indonesia 

Saltwater crocodif e (Crocodylus porosus) 

Status of Wild Populations: Populalions of C. paloslJ arc 

widely scaltercd throughout many of the cstimated 13'679 

islands in Indonesia. Fow ilata are avarlable on populadon 

slnLus in most ar€as. al$ough comprcbensive surveysin rcpre_ 

(I4ahanadiRivcr, Orissa), ColbeuNational Park (Utiar Pradesh)' senEtivc lowland habitals in Sumatra and Kalimantan were 

and in small se.uons of the Son and Ken rivers in Madhya conducled by $e Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)- 

Pradesh (whilaker and Whihker 1989b). The populadon in the Dircclorate of Forest Prorccuon and Nalure Consc ation 

Mahanadi River is 25, which represenrs only 4.57, ofthc gharial GHPA) crocodile project in 190. The rcsulb are still in press 

releascd al this sile (Ra1h ol al. 1990). 

(J. Cox pers. comm.). The most complete data aro for the 

popularions in Irian Jaya. Crocodilc populations on Java were 

Management and Conservation P.ograms: Gharial are le' repon€d to be scverely deplctcd (Groornbridge 1982, Whilrker 

gally proteclcd under the 1972 Wildlife holection Act Egg 1982), with C. po.rr&r apparendy pelTisting in low numbers in 

collection for head-stardng programs began in 1975 with the the Ujung Kulon Nalional Patk (W. Ramono pers. comm. to J 

collection of cgSs from a ncst on $e Girwa River in Uttar Cox). Crqrodilestill remain in scaltered small populalions on 

Pradesh. Subsequcnt efforts wcrc made to locale nesB and Sulawesi, lhe Maluku Ishnds (Moluccar), ihe Lsser Sunda 

collec! eggs in other parts of India, and some cggs were lilands \including Trmor,. and on Siberul This specic( tras 

collectcd from the Rapiti-Nardyani River in Ncpal a-s well rcpoiEd !o bc be.oming rarc on S umaua in the early 1980s, but 

(Whitater 1987). As of 1984 a tot l of 6,000 eggs had bcen was still present in most of the rivers along tho east coast 

collecled and 1,164 juvenile gharials reledsed back inio $e wi ld (Groombridge 1982). This speties has possibly bccn exlirpaled 

(Singh e! al. 1986a). 

on rho island of Bali (J. Cox, pcrs. comm ) Populalion sbtus 

By 1984, eight protected areas had b€€n dcsignared lor on Kalrmantan (Bomeo'is unkno$n but the specics *as 

gharial managcmenr National Chambal Sanctuary, Co.bclt becoming vcry rare in lhc 1970s. 

National Park, Jawaharsagar Sanctuary (Rajasthan), Thc slalus of crcodile populabons in three principal areas 

Katemiyaghal Sanctuary, Ken Sanctuary, Son sancluary, on lrian Jaya ,xas summarized by Fraz ier (1990) and Cox 

Salkoshia Gorge Sanctuary, and Papikonda Sanctuary (Andhra (l9m). Overhuntng has sevcrely reduccd $e numbcr of 

Pradesh). 

crocodiles in lne Binluni Bay area. Vidually all obseraed 

Over 500 gharial werc rclansed in thc Salkoshia Gorge crccodilc densities wcrc under 2.0,&rn, with an ovcrall density 

Sanctuary, but the success of this program has been limicddue estinare of0.4 3/I(m ( 183 seen ovcI 428 kn) for both C. prlorl]r 

b exrcnsive humdn use of thc river. Ncw trial release silcs have andC. naeaeguineoe (Cox 1990, Frazier 1990). ofdesc68 

been identified in fie Dcbrigad Sanctuary, and a ponion of the wcrc identified as C. prldr us ^nd 59 asC. noweSuineae).lnl]].e 

adjacenl Hnahd reservon (Orissa). Addidonal relose sitcs on Mambcramo river systcm populalons of C. polorxr appear !o 

thc Braham Rivcr aro also being sought (SiDgh. 1990) b€ s€verely dcpleled in thc dclla region, and the mid'upper 

Curenrly thcro are nine rcaring cenrcrs for gharial in India. regions wcro probably ncver a sEonghold for the spccies (J. 

Captive breeding of ghdrial has been difficult and has becn Cox, !|ers. comm.) Spo ilht surveys rcvcal very low crocodile 

accomplished only a! four sitcs: Nandankanan Biological Park densities (27 counled ovcr 52.2 km; 0.52&m) and acrial nest 

(Orissa). Kukail Crocodile Rehabiliradon Centre (Ultai counrs found low lcvcls ofnesling. However, C. poloJllr slill 

Itadesh), Banarghatta National Park (Kamataka), and ftc consrilurcs approximalcly 89. of crocodile skins and young 

Madras Crocodile Bank (Tamil Nadu) (Singh et al. 1986b, harvcstcd from the middle and uppcr Mamberano River (J Cox, 

Choudhury, pcrs. comrn.). 

unpublisheddata). The population satus in thc Pulau Kimaam 

rcgion is somewhal be1ler, wilh population dcnsily values 


ranging from 0.181,o4.7/tm. However, in mosl aieas obscrvcd 

Survey Data: Ill-basic suwcy data 

densilies wcrebelow 2.04m (mean=1.40/&m over 3064 km of 

wild Pop lalion Srahs: 3-severely dcpleled/endangered rivcr habilal) and surveys repalcd on the sarne rivcrs in 1989 

Managcment hogram: D'reslocking/reinFoduction have shown a furlher declinc of some 587'. All obscrved

operations. The villagelevel lanches serve as ertension sites 

for teaching husbandry and education coocemins the beneficial 

etrecls ot the crocodile program, More emp-hasis 

being 

placed on lho villagelevel rearing and br€rding of crocodiles 

than in Papua New Guinea. In addition, a govemment operated 

research farm in Sorong, Irian Jaya is conducting husbandry 

research (Cox 1990). A fial eg8-collecrion progl"aln is also 

b€in8 developed wirh 500+ liable eg$s oI C. tuwleguinzac 

harvesied in conjunction with the annual nest counls. 

Crccodile popularion monitoring is conceniraring on helicopter 

nest surveys in certain areas of th€ Mambemmo river 

system during dle amual C. noyaeguineae nesting s€ason. 

Similar surveys fo. C. prrosrs nests were abandonedue lhe 

the low numberc of nestl sporled. Nighi spotlight counts are 

SdlF{c c.oedlle, CD.or'r&, tdas6, .nd NcF cutnq mod q also b€ing conduct€d (Cox 1990). 

crc.odlu A resrocking carnpaign 

nor@auitua.,tn t for 

nhch ln IrtD J.y.,Indon€st. (ptroto b, C. parosas is cunendy under considerarion (CITES 1989); 

however, becaus€ effective policing of most release sites cannot 

yet be guaranaeed, suggestions have recendy been maale lo 

relain much of lhis stock !o pronote captive bref,ding (Cox 

cr@odiles werc C.pordrr./r. Alrhoug hunting 

1990). 

is srill 

Nevenheless, 

common 

rial restocking will be auempted (J. Cox, 

in lhe area, the laige 

pers. 

amount of remote habirar and low human 

comm.). 

populadon densily have combincd ro rcducc 

Four protecred 

rhe effe.ls of 

areas have b€€n established on Irian Jayaj Ihe 

huung. 

Mamberamo-Foja National Park (1.66 mi ion ha), Rouffaer 

Stj:ict Nalure Reserve (531,000 ha), Bintuni Bay Nature Reserve 

( 1,m0 ha), 

Matragement and Cons€rvation Programs: C. porosus is 

and Kimaam Island Wildlife Rescrve 

officially prorected (720,000 

by law in Indonesia 

ha). 

by Decrce 

However, 

of rhe 

management plans have not yet been 

Minis0er of Agdcullurc in 1980 (Klcmn and Navid 

develop€d 

1989). The 

for any of these areas (Cox 1990). 

management of C . parosur in Indonesia is based 

Surveys 

on a sustainable-utilization 

program, localcd principatly in Irian 

of crocodile popularions on SumaEa, Kalimanian, 

Sulawesi, and (ie 

Jaya. The 

Maluku Islands ar€ boing planned for 1990- 

Fogram, run joifldy by FAO and PHPA is 

l99l (crTES 

aimed at csrablishins 

1989). 

a crocodile mnching and farming industry in tnan Jaya sirn it; 

to the sysrem in Papua New cuinca. hogmm 

Co|rntly Rating 

acrivides have 

included the moniroring of wild crocodile populalions, providing 

technical suppon conceming husbandry 

Survey Data: trI-basic survey alata 

Wild 

techniques, 

Population 

and 

Slarus: 4-depleted/wlnerable 

asslsLlnce in rhe development of thc processing 

Managemcnt 

and marketing 

Program: E.1-cropping, E.2,ranchmg 

of the crocodile producrs. A major obstacle has be€n $e 

widespread illegal hunting of brerding-sized crocodiles. Rc, 

gional crocodile skin rrade data indicarc thar the mcan 

New Guinea 

size 

crccodile (Croco.rllus 

of 

rrova.guiteae\ 

skins for both speci€s has been dropping in recent ye€rs, Status of Wild Populations: This species is rcstricted to the 

suggcsdng ftathunring is havinga ncgative impact on the wild island of New cuine& In Indonesia ir is found onlv in Irian 

populations. Most of lhese illcSal skins wcre being purchas€d Ja) a. Recent surveys have been conducte/ by Frazier ( 1990, as 

by dealcrs from Singapore. In an effort ro monitor and control pan of the FAO-PHPA crocodile management program. In the 

the hunring, fte salc of 10 18 inch bclly-widrh skins was Mamberamo/RouffaerAdenburg river sysrem relarively dense 

legalized in 1988- Thc killing of targer crocodiles and the us€ Df{kets of C. novaeguineae are still found, and aerial nesr 

of baiFd hooks was prohibiled (Cor 1990). Thc re.enr (Oc!o, surveys indicaie a healrhy popularion comfurable l,o tha! of the 

ber, 1990) renoval by Singapore of its reservation on C. middle Sepik in Papua New cuinoa (Frazier 1990). Aorial nesr 

prlrJr,as offers renewed hopc that the illegal tmoc networks counts conducred in 1989 suggesled|ar the population is slable 

liom Indonesia can be shu!down. 

or increasing (Cox 1989). On Pulau Kimaan Istand. C. 

hesently lhere arc more than 30 aurhorized crocodile rearing 

centcrs in Indonesia. Thc majoriry of these opcrarions are crocodiles held by villa8ers, bur irs narural presence in lhe wild 

novaeSaneoe rs common among thc captive groups of small 

localcd in Irian Jaya, bul some arc in Sumatra, west Java, is no! yct confirmed. The population in (he Binruni Bay region 

Kalimanran, and Sulawesi. Eslimared total srock a! all rffrins was also rqnned !o bc heal$y (in comparison ro ahe C. poldrlJ 

cenrrs i( 51.0O0. almo\L all of which have been ranched oi from the same area) (Flazier 1990). 

purchased from local peoples. Four village demonsEatron 

ranches have be€n consEucte.d wilh lhe assistance of lhe FAO_ Management and Conservation programs: This species (and 

PHPA program. Thcsc village mnches servc as holding pens C. parcsLr) totms the basis of a large-scale managemeot 

beforc tle crocodiles arc lransporled to one of thc larger rearing progmm on Irian Jaya (see C. porrrrE account above). This 

42

sp€cics has also be€n reponedly intirduced onlo farms on 

Sulawesi and Bahm Islands. Approximalelv 3.000 C. 

naweguineac arc hcld arP T. Jagat Perkasa Karunia farm on 

BaEm, and 50G1,000 on the farm of C.V. Sumbar Karya 

outside Ujung Padrrg, Sulawesi 


Survey Da(a: Ill-baric survey (hla 

wild Population Slalus: 4-dcpleted/wlncmble 

Management hogram: E.I cropping.8.2 ranching 

Mrnag€mena rnd Conservation Programsi The tom'sbma 

Siamese crocodile (Crocodllus siamensis) is legally p(olected in Indonesia under the Fauna Reguladon of 

19?8 (Klemn and Navid 1989). Permits to acquiro and rear 

Status of Wild Populations: Few rcccnt data arc available. 

yotJngTomistona ^reL\eing issued by thc Indonesian Manage- 

Ross (1986) has examincd specimcns from Java. SumaEa. 

Bangka Island, Bomeo (Kalimantan) and Sulawesi. A consid' 

erable amount of intcr-island variation occurs and these forms 

are dishct from dle mainland C. rian nslr (Ross 1986) Ross 

(1990) idenlifies a crocodile from Kalimantan as Cro.rdllxr 

/anin!-s, aspecies verydistinctfrom all oiher insularlndonesian 

crccodrle populauons. According 10 Ross (in litt Junc 23, 

1990), the relationships ot crocodiles in thclndonesian islands 

Jre not wcll under.lood. bul lL appcaJ( Lhal a rtd@r\tr was 

found on Java, where il may be exdncl (Grcnrnbridge 1982). 

FAO-PHPA surveys ot a-rms in Kalimanlan, Sumalra, and 

Sulawesi were conductcd in 1990'1991 l,o shed more light on 

lhc crment stalus of this spccies complex in Indonesia. Prclimi 

nary surveys in Augus! 1990 rcvealed a number of ddne t.tlr - 

like crocodiles on farms in Kalimanbn lhat did no! apperr !o be 

the rdrinli form. Fu(her examinalion is in progrcss to establish 

lhc t xonomic idcntily and source of thcsc animals. 

Management and Cons€rvation Programs: Prolccled under 

fic Fauna Regulatton of 1978 (Klemm and Navid 1989) 


Survey Dala: Il-surveys Planned 

wild Populadon S1alus: l-unknown 

Managemenl Program: C lcgislalion 

rcporteal that they could gel morc if prices for skins wcr€ higher 

(J. Cox, p€rs. cornrn.). It is tho ghtthatevenb€foreexploihton 

by pcople be.ame widesprcad thal this sp€cies was only prescnt 

in rclatrvely low donsides. 

Populations reported from seveml areas in Kalimantan, 

including the Tanjrmg Puling Rescrve and the Berat River 

(Groonbridge 1982), have bccn recendy confirmcd (Scoll 

Frazier pers. comm.). Thc reported presence of Tordrlrrlu in 

$e Marisa River in nonhem Sulawesi has not yel been 

confirmed. 

Tomistoma (f omisro ma sc hle ge lii) 

Status of Wild Populationsr No re.ent survey dala arc 

published. Surveys of Kalimantan and Sumatra wcre con' 

{tuccd 1990 by FAO-PHPA proje.! pcrsonnel. Thrcc mondr 

surveys iD Sumaiia and in Kalimdnhn revealed nine nver 

systems wilh significantdensilies of Lrtirlorrlt. Thc rangeot 

this spccies includes Kalimantan, Sumaua, and possibly 

Suiawesi. Poprlalion sralus in$eearly 1980s was tcrmed nol 

rare in some parls of east Sumalra including the Berbak Reservc. 

and possibly the Way Kambd's Rcscrve Reporls lrom 

soulh S umara irom the Lalan, Kuran, and Bahar riYers as well 

as swamps adjaccnt 1o the Mcdak and Mcrang rivcrs 

(Groombridge 1982) were confirmed in rcccnl survevs (Cox 

pcrs- comm.). ln Sumatra, ?br?irron has re.cntlv been rcporled 

1() bc locally common in suitable habitat (fieshwaler 

swamps,headwaters ol river systcms) by crocodile ranchcrs CaDtlv€ tmistoma, Ionirr,tu r.rlea.&i, on r cmodlle i m' 

who have acquired 100+ in thepas!2 3 yenrs. Thcse rdnchcrs I(rlin'nLn. Indon€sl. iPhoto bv cJ-W. wcbb) 

43

mac. Whitakcr and Whirakcr (1989b) suggest lhar de wild 

population numbers 50 100. Crocodilesare found in rwopanl 

of the river: in thc Kolani Marsh near the mourh, and in a sl]erch 

of river betweon Rask and Bahu KalaL The populalion had 

reporledly be€n reduccd by hide hunring (croomb.idge 1982), 

although Yr'hiuler (1982) considers habiht loss ro be fie 

biggest rhrcat. 

Management atrd Conservation Programs: Crocodiles were 

fully prolccted by Iranian law in 1972 under rhc Wildlife 

kotertion Act (Klemm and Navid 1989). 


Survey Darat I-no survcy planned 

rJr'iU Populalion Srarus: l-unlnowr 

Managemcn! Program: Clegislarion 

Siamese crccodilc 

Laos 

'fomisrom^, Ionitow s.hl.s.li, lt snr.b.r. Zm, J.v., Indoncstr 

ment Aulhority to farmcrs in Sumatra and Katimantan. Small 

groups arc maintained incaprivily inSurnarra, Katimanhn, and 

wcslJava, bu!as ye! no captive breeding has blen place. 


Survey Data: ll-survcys planncd 

Wild Population Slalus: 3-scverely deplclcryendangcrcd 

Managemcn! Program: Clegislarion 

Contact: Jack Cox, ScolrFrazier, Dr. Effcndy A. Sumdrdja 

Muggcr 

Iran 

Mtgger (C ro c o tlylus palu stis) 

Status of Wild Populationsr No reccnl su.vey data are 

available- Surveys in 1970 indicalcd that crmodiles wcrc 

restriclcd !o the SarbaT River drainage in soulhcaste.n lran. A 

toLal of 18 crocodiles wcrc sighted, and populauon srze was 

cxrapolatcd lo be grcatcr $an 50 (croombridgc 1982), al 

though Andcrson (1979) suggesred rhis may b€ an overcsra 

Siamese crocodife (Cro codllus siamensis) 

Status of Wild Popnlations: This species is only known in 

l-aos from historical references. Smilh (1931) srates that this 

spe.ies exlands norlhward ro aboul laliruale 16' N, wit\ one 

spccimen known frcm Kemara!. along thc border belwcen Laos 

and Thailand. There are rcccnt phoiographs of caplive C. 

rianrnrlr at a small zoo in Vicnliane. Thc animals wcre said to 

havc been caplurcd in l,3os (Sluarr, in li!1. June 1991). 

Management and Conservation Progrsms: Unknown. 


Suvcy Data: I no suryey planncd 

Wild Population Slalus: I -unknown 

Managemcnl Program: B,none 

Contactr Xisida Bounrhong, Dr. Richard E. Sauer 

Saltwater crmodi Ic 

Siamescrocodile 

Malaysia 

Saltwater crocodile (C roco dylus po ro su s) 

Status of W d Populations: The populalion slalus in Wesr 

Malaysiaisuncertain. A recent counFy-wide suBey of Sffawak 

indicaled thar C. pdfrst r popularions are very dcplered. Mcan 

cr(rodile dcnsity over 1,043 km of night spolljgh! counts 

revcalcd a density ofonly 0.0544m, with fewjuvcniles (Cox 

and Gombet 1985). A similar supey in Sabah (1,146 km 

surveyed) also found very lowcrocod;lcdensilics (mean 0.049/

km) (Whitakor lgsa). From thos€ dala a coneclcd populalion ever, a subsequent survey in Sarawak indicaFd population 

dcnsity figure of 046 crocodrles/km was estimalod, and lhese lovels were vory low. Iorirroru was only confimed ftom one 

valuos wero extrapolatod io predict a lotrl population siza of river systen (tlrc uppcr Ensengai Baki), but may still be found 

about 2,600 h Sabah. More recent surveys ofone river in S abah in some ot $e more remotc and inaccessible aroal (Cox and 

(Klias .iver) found a population estimatcd to he about 90 Gombek 1985). 

individuals, suggesting that some recovcry had taken plzlcc. ?orurlon a was apparendy ncver found in Sabah (Whitaker 

r984). 

Management atrd Cons€nrtion Prugrams: C parcsus is 

legally proteclcd in Sabah but nol sarawak (Grmmbddge Manag€ment atrd Conservation Programs: Tamistotru is 

1982). Klemn and Navid ( 1989) rcporl lhat qocodile mav be reporled to be proiected in parts of West Malaysia including 

tlken under license. Crocodile farming and ranching operations 

have sraned all over Malaysia. In west Malaysia' scven not in Sarawak (Cox and Gombck 1985). 

Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Malacca (Honegger 19?9)' bul 

farms werc rcported by Luxmoore el al. (1985) bul apparcndy 

only one was bre€ding animals in captivity ln Sabah only one Country Rating 

farm was reporlEd. This was esscntlally a ranching opcration Survey Dalai Ill-basic survey alata 

but $e govemmenl banned the colleclion of wild animats; wild Populatron Status: 3-severely dePleted/cndangered 

captivc bre€ding was then planned, bul some illegal imporl Management hogram: C legislation 

from Kalimantzn, Indonesia was repoied (Luxmoore cl al. 

1985). In Sarawak, two fams are in operation. One was Contact: Patrick Andau, Mohd. Klan b Momin Khan' Tunku 

purchasing crocodiles from local fishermen, but the other was Mohammed, Kcn Scriven, Rob Stuebing. Romulus Whitater 

making serious efforls to dcvclop a captive breeding program 



wild Population Status: 3-severely dcplet€d/endangered 

Managemenl Program: E.2-ranching. E 3-iarming 


Gharial 

Myanmar (Burma) 

Siamese crocodif e (Crocodllus siamensis) 

Stat$ of Wild Populalions: This species was reported by 

Ross ( 1986) !o be \ridcsprmd in the Indonesian islands, including 

Bomco. Indicating il Inay hatc been lound al one limc in 

Sabah and Sarawak. Specimcns were also reporlcd from 

southemmost Thailand (Smilh 1931), suggesling lhcy were 

also found in Peninsular Malaysia. 

Saltwater crocodile (Crccodllus porosus) 

Status of Wild Populationsl No recent survey da|a are 

availablc. Only isolated populations arc thought to remain 

Based on a survey conducted by Caughlcy (in Groombndge 

1982), the largest remaining population is in tho lrrawaddy 

Delta and numbcred aboul 4,000 in 1980, but was being 

deplcted by heavy exploiEtion. Aung Moe (1990) repons thc 

C. polovr population to be declining due !o illcgal hundng and 

nest and habita! destruclion. 

Management and Consefiation Programs: l€gal status is 

assumed to be lhe same as tor C. porosus. C. .tldner.tij rs nol 

known lo be found on any commercial farm in Mdlavsia. 

Manag€ment and Conservation Programs: No specific legal 

protection is affordcd $is sp€cies, but the issue of all game 


hunting liconces has be€n banned since 1958 (Klcmm and 

Survey Data: Ill-basic survey dau 

Navid 1989). A proposed United Nations Development Pmgram 

crocodile project was never staned duc !o lack of funds 

Wild Populatlon Status: I unknown 

Managemcn! Program: Clegislafon 

(whil,al(er 1986). One croccldite farm was started in 1978 in 

Rangoon (The Pcople's Pcarl and Fisheries Corpomtion Crocodilc 

Farm), run by the Burmese govcmment (Luxmoore ct al. 

Tomistoma (?omisroma sc hle ge lA 

1985). Accordiog to a rcpon by Caughley ( 1980), haLhling or 

Status of Wild Populationsr No rccent survey da|.a are ycmling crocodiles wclc collecFd through a number of collecdon 

cenrcrs along the eastem side of the Irmwaddy Dclta. This 

available for Wcst Malaysia, but ?brlrlarn is reported to bc 

cxtremely nre. The species is possibly still found in $e Pahang collection \vas apparently lrking vinually all thc requLEncnt m 

dver, bul has apparently been cxlirpaled from the Tasek Bera at least onc region (Tawbaing area). The farm is reporlcd to be 

Swamps (Grmmbridge 1982). Terry Cullen (pcrs. comm. modellcd on the farms in Thailand and Singapore, and in 1980 

Aprif 1990) reporled Tomistonm lo be rare on Peninsular it had a stock of 900 C. po.arlrr. Captrve breedrng was hoped 

Malaysia, wherc it is more commonly found in shallow swamps to make ihe farm solf-sushining by 1983, bul a 1990 repon 

and backwalcrs as opposcd lo rivers whibker (1984) visi€d indica@d that lolrl captive stock only nurnbcred 550 (Aung 

Ssrawak in lq8l and reporkd lhrt 7ot,rro4, was prcsent in Moe 1990). Howevcr, some captive brecding was rcported !o 

most of lhe inland rivers and permanenl swamp areas, and b€ taking placc. The farm planned on creating a crocodilc 

reponed lhat young were not infrcquendy cncounlercd How' sanctuary on Mcinmahla Kyun Island (in the lnawaddy Delta), 

45

where somc of dle crocodiles rearcd on the farm could bc 

relcased io rcstock nalural populations and provide for future 

suslainable-yield harves$ (I-uxmoorc er al. 1985). 


Survcy Dala: I-no survey planned 

Wild Popuiarion Status: 3,severety aleplelcd,/en@trgcrco 

Managemenr hogram: CJegLslation.h.2-ranching 

Gharial (G afi alis gange ticu s'1 

Status of Wild Populations: No recenl survoy oata ale 

available. The historical presence of lhis species in Burma is 

conffmed by Barton (1929), who shor a large gharial in rhe 

Shweli River some I ,m0 miles upsteam fmm the dell3 of rhe 

Irrawaddy. The only orher historical refcrence to ghar.ial in 

Myanmar is from rhe Kaladan River ncar rhe border wirh 

Bangladcsh. A survey in rhe early 1980s ofthe Kaladan River 

found no gharial, and local peoptc indicaled lhar the spc.ies had 

bccn exdrpalcd (croombridge 1982). Aung Moe (1990) re_ 

porled lha1 Gdyldts havc be€n reported fiom coashl arms. bu! 

no specimens had b€en collected. 

Management and Conservation Programs: This specics is 

prorecrcd by law (whitrker 1989). 


Survey Dala: I,no survcy planned 

Wild Population Slatus: 2-exdrpared 

Management hogmm: C-legistation 

Contacl B.K. Aung Mo€, Ko Ko cyi, Kyaw Nyun Lwin. 

Nyan Taw 

Musger 

Gharial 

Mugget 

Nepal 

(Cto c o dyl u s palustis\ 

Status of WiH Populations: No reccnt survey oala are 

availablc. Maskey (in croombridge 1982) rcport€d lhar fie 

mugger crccodile was relatively common throughoul Nepal in 

marshy lalcs, ponds, and small rivers. h is found in scattcred 

populations in some of thc major rivcrs and in forested ponds 

(Whitaker 1982). The popularion in thc Royal Chitwan Na 

tional Park (NarayanilRapri/Reu rivers) in 1978 was cslimared 

b bo 2m (Groombridge 1982). Whitakerand Whirakcr ( 1989b) 

pres€nl a smaller figure of 3G50 for lhe enlire counfy. 

Manag€ment and Conseryation programs: The mugger is 

partially prolected under lhe Narional parks and Wildlite horccdon 

Rules of 1974, bu! full prolecrion may have been given 

sinco that time (Klcmm and Navid 1989). 



Wild Population SEtus: 3-severely depleted,/endangercd 

Management Prognm; Clegislation 

Gharial (G avialis gange ticus) 

Status ofwild Populations: chariat were at one time widely 

disEibuied droughour rhe major river systens of Nepal. Ar 

present, gharials are known only from lhe Kamali, Babai, Kali, 

and Narayani rivers (Maskey 1989a). Total adult poputation 

size in Nepal was estimated by Maskey (1989a) to be 74. This 

number was elcvated to 186 by Maskey in 1990. The largest 

single population is in thc Nardyani, numbering approximarely 

95 adulls, concentralcd in the areas around Velaunge and 

Bhosarghal, where fioy frequent areas with dcep @ls and high 

sand banks. The popularion in the Babai River, in westcm 

Nepal, nunbers 7- l0 wild individuals and is the only river not 

affccted by dams (Maskey 1990). popularions have increasad 

in reccnt years wilh rhe releasc of caprive-rearEd juvcniles (see 

below). 

Management and Con*rvation Programs: Gharials arc 

prolccted under the Wildlifc horection Act of 1973. In 1978, 

thc Gharial Conservalion hoject was shrted at rhe park hcadquaners 

of Royal Chirawan Narional pdrk, Kasara, and was 

aimed at rcstocking gharials inlo the Namyani and othcr rivers 

in Nepal. This program is modetled after the gharial rclease 

progam in India, and consisrs of colle.ling eggs from wild 

nests, rearing fie young in caprivity, and releasing rhem at a sizc 

ofaileasl I m. Beiwecn l98l and 198?,atoral of30Tghdials 

wcre relea.sod in the riv€rs Narayani (183 ghariats), Kali (35), 

Kosi (84), and Rapli (5) (Maskey 1989a). The caplive rearing 

prognm has continued, and in 1989, 141 hatchlings wcre 

produced. In 1990, an addilional8? gharial (5 years old; 1.2- 

1 .6 m long) were releascd including 25 in lhc Nardnyani River, 

32 in the Kali Ghandaki River, and 30 in lhc Babai Rivcr in 

westem Nepal. By 1990, the rotal number of gharial releas€d 

was394. Approximarely 40 relea.s€d gharial still survive in the 

Naranyani ( 189, of lhe loral numberelcased) and some of rhosc 

relcased in l98l are now approaching rcpmduclive age (tr laskcy 

r 990). 

Maskey (1989a) conducred a mdio,relemelry study of rc, 

Icased gharials in rhe Narayani River in 1981 ,1982 and in 198?. 

Plans continue for Iong,term monitoring of the popularions anal 

the expansion of lhc progam wirh the rclease of gharials inro 

the Kamali River in westem Nepat (Maskcy 1989b). 


Survey Dala: Iv,widesprcad survey dara 

Wild Population Slarus: 3-sevcrcly depletcd,/endangcrcd 

Management Program: D rcstocking/reinftjductiofl 

Contact: Dr. Tirtha M. Maikcy, Dr. Hemanra Mishn 

46

- 

Mugger 

Gharial 

pakistan 

1982). Klan (198?) ropois rhar gharial wcre extincr in rhe 

Indus River in de provinco of Sind. Ahamad (in ti& April 16, 

1990) re.endy reponed tho sighting ofone female in rhe Sind but 

gave no funher derails- A survey is ptanned for Janurry, 1991. 

Mttgger (C rccodylus palustris) 

Menagement and Conservatior progrsms: Hunting and 

Status of 

export 

Wild Populations: 

are banned in Pakistan. 

No recen! 

The 

survey 

species is 

daa 

reported 

are 

lo be 

protected 

available bur rhis 

wirhin 

species was 

rhe Indus 

considered 

River 

ro 

Dolphin 

be cndangered 

Sancruary (Whirakcr 

or 

vcry Iare in 

1982). 

the e3rly 1980s (croombridge 

Pakist n has plans ro breed 

1982). An 

and rear gharial 

esrimate 

for a 

of over 100 

resbcking program 

crocodiles was given for 

similar ro 

the Sind rcgion, 

lhe one in 

where 

India (Khan 

5l 

1989). 

wer9 counted in lhe Nara canal. Since that dme populations of 

C . palustri: bzva 


rc.oyercd, ard the species is now considered 

safe in &eSind by Khan (198?). 

Suncy Data: Il-surveys planned 

Crocodile recovery has been 

in association 

Wild Population 

L,irh a conservarion project 

Shtus: 3,severety 

in fie Deh 

depleted,/endangered 

Akro No. 

2 Taluka Nawabshah. This projec! 

Managemen! Program: C-legislarion 

began in 1983, and cunenr 

cstimates place lhe crocodile population ai about 2,000 (AImad 

1990). 

Contact: 

In Baluchisran, 

Ashiq 

widespread 

Ahmad, W.A. Kermani, 

killing 

Abrar 

of crocodiles 

Husain Mirza, 

has 

threatcned 

Abdul lltif 

rhe majori!y 

Rao 

ofthe local popularions with extinction. 

Many crocodiles were reportcd ro have been kilted in rhe River 

Hingol during a period of low warer in 1986-1987 (Khan 1989). 

Principal drcars include killing for sale of rhe hide, ki ing by 

tishennen, as well lho colleating of specimens for laboralories Palau (Caroline Islands) 

and museums (Khan 1988). 


Management and Cons€rvation programsr Hunting and 

cxporting of crocodiles or crocodile producrs is banned. Juris_ Saltwater crocodif e (Crocotlylus porosus) 

diction is ar the slarc levet and all slares and rhe Islamabad 

Capilal Terrilory offer legal prolccrion ro fiis specics (Klemm 

Status of Wild Populationsr Unwarranted confusion has 

and Navid 1989). Crocodiles are rep,onedty prorecr€d 

surrounded 

in L,al 

the sp€.ies of crocodile occuring on the palau 

Suhnra National Park (Whitaker 1982). The govemmenr 

Islands; 

of 

all the P.dau crocodiles are C. porrfld and no orher 

thc Sind has recenlly declared the Deh Ako No. 

species 

2 Taluka 

occum on Palau (Messel and King l9t). Motoda 

Nawabshah region, an area of 50.000 

(1937, 

acres containjng 

1938) 

some 30 

strtcd lhat dre Palau crocodiles were rhe same 

lakes, as a wildlife sanctuary for crocodiles. The govemment 

species as occurs in India, C - poro[ us ot Wssibly C. patustris . 

of India is planing to provide palisran wilh 200 young 

Other early records refcr 

C. 

to C. pr.o&4 until Kimura (1968) 

pall]Jl|l] to Pakistrn !o be uscd in a rcst tcking program 

repor@d thre. 

for 

species, C. l7? n doreasis utd C . novue yuneae n 

sanctuaries in Pakistan (Rao 1989). Officiat approvat 

addi[on 

of the 

ro C. paaJar. KjmuJ. Iq68) rcpoaed har ;crocodile 

exchange is awaiting a reply fmm pakis[an 

farm 

conceming 

operated prior 

rhe 

to World War II on Amkabesanc hland 

spccifi crelease sites tobe us€d (8.C. Choudhury, pers. 

near Koror 

comm.). 

and *as sLo(ked wilh crocodjtes from thiphilippincs. 

A captive brecding opcradon in rhe Sind is reponedty 

Nes Guinea, and local sources. Orncr sources rc.g. 

underway. Plans are to rear crocodiles for three ycars 

Thyssen 1988) 

beforc 

havc suggesrcd lhar C. porrr,6 havc hybridized 

releasing $em back into rhc wild_ 

wi.th C . tu\'aeqineae onPalau ro produce a third hybrid form. 

Populations of crocodiles numbering in the thousands werc 


rcporled. Examinarion of numerou specimens in t99l by 


Messel and King could not verify thc presence of any spccies 

Wild Population Starus: 4-dcplered,/vulnerable 

Management Prcgram; Clegistalion. Drerqocking,reifidrdon 

Surveys ofatl thc major habitats in the palau group in June 

1991 revealed a roral of 42 crocodiles in I 12.4 km of survev. 

Mcssel and King ( Ioa t, conctude r}ar C porosur is ncanng 

Gharial (G aialis gange tic u s) 

extnction in Palau with two very smatl populations remaining 

at Belilou Island and Ngerdok Lake on Babeldaob and a handful 

Status of Wild Populations: No recenr survey dala are of scattered survivors clsewherc. No evidcnce of iuvcniles or 

available. This sp€cies was considered 10 be on rhe verge of recent breeding was s€en. 

exli0ction in Pakistan in lhe early 1980s. populalons were ar 

one time abundanl in the Sind, but werc impacted by habital Managementand Conservation programs: Theendffrgered 

desEuction with rhe construcrion of dams uscd for irrigarion, status ofC. porrrB in Palau is a dire.t result ofa delibcrare 

and were killcd by fishermen. popularion estimares at &is rime program of exlerminadon pursued by lhe U.S. Adminislrarion 

suggcsted that no morc $an 20-30 individuals remained rn the late 1960s and 1970s. Scveral hundred wcrc shor bv 

(Groombridgo 1982, Whilakcr 1982). The main populations huore^ conrracLed to lhe locat adminisralion durina rhe t97Os 

werc found in ihe Indus River and thc Nara Canal (Whilaker and 500- 1.000 by a rram ot to. al hunrrs bersee; 1979 and

1981, a period when lhis species was pmt cted by d|e U S' 

Endangered Species Act. The.se islands are a U S. protectorate 

and subiecl !o U.S. federal laws and CITES resEictions Repofis 

d;ring 1990 indicate $at illegal C. pororu skins and 

products are entering Guam ftom tlD Palau Islands (H. Me'ssel' 

Dcrs. comm.). Also, Ecent rcports sugge$ tnal tounsls are 

arriving in Guam from Palau with crocodilian articles G.W' 

King, pels. comm., 1990). 

A;all number of locally caughl C pr.os,lJ presendy held 

in a fann run by a local resident, could form the nucleus of a 

breeding 8roup. Recommenilations !o devclop captive breeding, 

publii education, sustainable use programs. and eventually 

u.estoctlng ptog*m tta"" been made (Me'ssel and King 199 I )' 



Wild Populalon Siatus: 3-scvorely depleted'/cndangered 

Management Prognm: B-none 

Contact: hof. F. Wayne King, Prof Harry Messel' Joshua 

Eberdon, Mr. Dcmei Otobed 

New Guinea qocodile 


Papua N€w Guinea 

New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineac) 

Status of Wild Poprlations: Tho New Guinea crocodile is 

found throughout the lowlands of lhe Papua New Guinea 

mainland but is thoughl !o be absont from the outlfng islands 

of the Bismark srchipelago (Genolagani and Wilmot 1991) 

Owing to the difficulty and inefficiency of monitoring croco_ 

dile population status in Papua New Guinea by spodight counts, 

aerial nest counts havo been used as an index of population 

trend. Surveys have becn carned out in lhe middlc Sepik River 

area since 1981. The resulls of the 1989 survcys indicatc that 

ovcr fie nine year period an ovel,all 21.9% increase in C 

noweguineae nesifig has occurred (mean annual incrca'se of 

2.5%) (Cox 1989). More re.ent survevs and analvsis covenng 

lhe decadc through 190 indicate lhat lhe nesting index may 

have declined to 98.6%, an annual dccrease of 0.1 % per ycar (J' 

Cox Derc. comm.) 

D;ring 1978-1980, Montrguc (1983) conducted noctumal 

spoilight counts in the Fly River dminage in southem Papua 

New Gninea. Ovorall densities (for both C. porosus and C' 

noweguineae\ on vntlnntted sections of river averaged I .6/km 

(504 km surveyed), and in hunted areas thc mean was 0 83/km 

(476 km surveyed). 

Managementand Cons€rvalion Programs: Thi' !ccounl is 

based principally on Hollands (1987). Beginning in lhe latc 

1960s thc govemment of Papua New Guinea embarked on a 

mileslone program to manage the utilizatlon of cr'rodilians 

hor to lhis fie uncortrolled hunting of crocodiles had led to a 

serious decline in wild stocks. In 1966, $e Crocodile Trade 

Ordinance was passed, regulaiing crocodile skh trade for the 

tust time, including a claus€ pmhibiting $e killing of large 

crocodrles (over 51 cm bolly widdl) for commercial purposcs' 

Durjna rhe carly 1970s a program was deleloPed by the Papua 

NewGuinea Wildlife Divislon des igned to shift the utiiizalion 

away from the hunting of large breeding animals' and develop 

a nnching progmm based on lhe collection of small crocodilcs 

by local p€oplcs. The original Fogratn intent rvas to establish 

a larse number of village_level nnches that would rear croco- 

anch in Lae. In 1988, a lotal of I,329 C. porosus utdl,'lq8 C. 

nov a. I u i n e a e eggs * erc collectod. The egg collecrion progam 

is financed by the Mainland Holdings operation. Captive 

breoding ofc prrdslr is also being conducted at the two largesl 

As part ofthe crocodile managemont program, rcseiuch was 

initiated into a number of asp€c6 of crocodile ecology, panicularly 

nesting (Hall and Johnson 1987, Cox 1985). A monitoring 

program was also initiated in 1981 usinS helicoprer nest surveys 

as an index of population size and trend. 


Survey Data: Ill-basic survey dala 

Wild Population Status: 4{epleted/vulnemble 

ManagementProgran: 8.l{ropping,E.2-ranching 

Wild Population Slatus: 4-depleted,/wlnerable 

Managementhogan: E. 1-cropping, E.2-ranching, E.3-farning 

Contact: Jack Cor, John-Mark Genolagani, Creg Mirchel, 

Kamana Sinba Dr. Mark A. Staron, John M. Wllmol Brian 

Philippine crocodile 


Philippines 

Philippine crocodif e (Crucodylus min.lorensis) 

Status ofwild Populations: A survey was conducted by Ross 

Saf twater crocodif e (Crocodylus porosus) in the early 1980s (Ross 1982, Ross and Alcala 1983). This 

species was at one lime widely dislributed rhroughout 

Status ofWild Populations: 

the 

The saltwarer crccodite is found 

Philippines, with the possible exceprion of Palawafl Current 

throughout $e terrilory of Papua Now Cuinea including thc populalion levels are exEcmcly low. Toral wild populadon 

larger islands 

size 

of the Bismark archifrelago and th€ many islands 

in 1982 was estimated to be between 5m 

of Milne Bay (cenolagani 

and I 

and Wilrnor 1991). 

,000 individuals. 

Suwey and Remnant populations are sriU found in 

management 

lhe viciniry of lake 

effor6 are focused on the mainland areas and Naujan on Mindoro, ir 

major 

lhe Pagatban River 

drainagcs 

on Ncgms, and in 

of the Fly and Sepick rivers. As with C. 

three disjunct populations on Mindanao (Calarian 

nowe 

t-akc, near 

S uin e ae,IxDnlationmoniloring in rhe middle SepikRiver 

Nabunluan, Davao del Nonc, 

area is 

and the Macasenaley 

done by mqns 

Marsh). 

of helicopler ncsr counls. Berwccn 1982 

Another wild population was 

and 1989 

ftought to remain 

a dramatic incr$se 

on $e island of 

of 50.8% in annual nesdng (6.0% 

Sarnar. The 

per year) 

species is thougha !o be mosrabundanton Mindanao 

was reported, bur rhe index declined significantly in (C.A. Ross, in litt. June23. 1990). 

the 1990 counas. 

Noctumal spodight counts were conducled by Monrague in 

Manag€ment and Cons$vation 

the Ffy River 

Programs: 

drainage f;om 

Crocodiles are 

1978-lq80 \see C. ôvacSuineoeproleclcd under Philippine law (C.A. Ross, in litr. June 23, 

l9m). Crocodiles are also officially protected in thre€ areas: 

l-ake Naujan National Park (Mindoro), Lingausan Game Rcscrve 

(North Colabato and Maguindanao provinces), 

Managemert and Conservation Programs: See account fot 

C . novaeguinea. aboee. Also, 

and the 

rdal commercial farming (capdve 

bre.eding) of C. pdloslr 

province ofPalawan. Howevcr, C. zu-rlorcr$r is only known 

is being conducFd at two farrns 

from 

(Mainland 

t]le first of$ese areas, and crocodile killing 

Holdings 

has conrinued 

and llimo). 

unabated in these areas. A caprive breeding progran began at 

the Silliman University Marine 

Country RatinS 

Laboraiory in 1980. Successful 

bre€ding was accomplishcd in 1982. 

Survey Da|a: Ill-basic 

The goal 

survey 

ofrhe opemtion 

dara 

is to roleasc crocodiles b6ck inro rhe wild on rhe island of 

NeSros. The total captive srock in 1984 was 25, including rwo 

bretding pairs (Ross 1982, Rossand Alcala 1983. Ross 1984). 

In 1988, a new large-scale crocodile farm was inauguBted 

on Palawan. This is a joint opcrarion b€rween lhe Republic of 

thc Philippines and the Japaneso govemment. The farm is 

aiming al commercial production but also hopes to play an 

impoiant conservation role for C. dndorerr$. Stock is being 

colloclcd from the wild and in 1989 numbered 15? individuals, 

of which approximatefy 20qa wereC. mindorensir. ln1989,l\e 

farm had six br€edin8 pairs of C. nindo,ensis, ar'd ttueg 

females werc showing signs ofnesring. Most crocodile.s Oolh 

specics) came from CoEbaro (Mindanao) or patawan (C. 

porostLt), but others originatcd from Agusan, Panay, and 

Mindoro. Anolher pair of C. mnlorers6 is housed in the 

Manila Zoological and Boraniml carden bur has not yet produced 

fedle eggs @iaz 1989). 

S.ltr.ter c.o@dilg Ceodr&r Outside $e Philippincs, only 

r@,6, gu.r.lhg ttr n6t, p.pu New 

a small number of capdve C. 

Gulno. CcodlhN shoF e.ll.d€rdoPed mr€.nrt b.hrvtor (pfto(o nindo.ensis exisl. Two pairs ar€ locarcd ar the Brownsville 

Zoo (Texas, U.S.A.; Honegger and Hunr 1990), and breeding is 

49


MaMgement Progmm: B-none 

Contact Prof. A.C. Alcala, Dr. Gorardo V. frega 


Singapore 

CncoAttu! rin.loE$h, P|ttttpPin€ craodlle hrt hll.gs h lrbontort 

t nk, MTlre L.bdrrort, sllllnen UnlveBltt, PhlllpDln€s(Pholo 

courtAt or WWF-TL Lucharez). 

Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) 

Status ofwild Populationst No known breeding population 

orjsts, but in recent years specimens have been caphred on 

Singapore Island by Richard Tan (H. Messel, pels, comm.). 

whether thc,se represent escaped farm animals or crocodiles 

from Malaysia/Indonesra is not known. 

bcing atempted with one parr at the SL Augtlsl.tne Alligator Manag€ment and CoDservation Progrsms: Despite ihe lack 

Farm (Ocata, Florida). 

of wild populations on Singapore ilself, Singapore is a major 

Ross ( 1984) concludos that there is litde fulue for crocodilcs conler of commerce in crocodilians and their b)?toducls, 

in the existing orproposed wildlife sanctuaries, and that captivo Luxmmre et al. (1985) r€poned that a large number ofrearing 

breeding is thc only hope for fie species uniil public sentiment oporations exist, impodng eggs and juvenile crocodiles Fom 

and awareness of conseflation pcrmit effective protccdon and Indonesia, Maiaysia, Papua New Gulnea, Australia, and the 

the implemenlation of reirtroduction progmms. 

PhilippirFs. Mostslockaro C. poro s,bntTomislott.a schk gehi, 

C. ltoraeguineae,$dcainan.t crdilB are also being rsred 

CountryRating 

for both skins and mear. Tan Chye Hock (1990) reporu thal 


approximately 250 crocodile rearing operations exist in 

Wild Population Sbtus: 3-s€verely depleted/cndangered Singapore, the majority being small opemtions assocrated with 

Management Program: Clegislation only 

poultry or livestock opemdons. Only 15 Iatger rearing cenlers 

(wi6 a mean stock of I,000 individuals) exjst, and 0le majority 

of these are ranching opemtiolts. Howe\er, obtaining slock has 

Saltwale. crocodile (Crocodllus porosus) b€come mdc drfficult recendy due to CITES resEiclions. One 

fafin, lhc Jurong Crocodile Pamdrse, has b€en breeding crocodiles 

in a closod-cycle operatioo since 1981. Total stock of lhe 

Status of Wild Populations: SuNcys conducted by Ross 

(1982) in dc early 1980s demonstrate dal populauon levels farm is 5,500, of which I,900 were bred on the farm (Tan Chye 

are very low. Small, low-density isolaled populatlons strll Hock 190). 

occur scatlercd around the archipelago, particularly on Until recently, Singapore maintained reservations on the 

Mindanao,butincluding Luzon. Mindoro,Palawan,andSarnar. importatron of C. pdrorxr an dC. naweguineae, \thlchfosrqed 

The best remaining populauon is found in the upper Agusan an illegal trade from Indonesia. These rcservations were 

River valley (Agusan del Sur hovince, Mindanao)(C.A. Ross, droppcd on 3l August 1990. 

in lilt. Junc 23, 1990). 

Management and Consenation Programs: Report€d not to 

be legally protecled by Croombridge (1982) and (Klemm and 

Navid 1989). Three protccled areai have been declared (sce C. 

nindorcnsis\ but littlc or no actual protectron is afforded 

crccodilcs in ihese areas (Ross I 982). 

The RP-Japan Crocodile Farming Institute on Palawan is 

trying to csbblish a captive breeding operalton for both sp€cies 

ofcrocodilos located in the Philippincs. However, by 1988 fte 

farm had only thr€€ breeding pairs of C. poror6. Some captrve 

breeding of C. pdrrrrr has also laken place at the Manila 

Zoological and Biological Garden (where one pair is houscd), 

bul no live hatchlings have bcen produced yet (Diaz 1989). 


Survey Data: Ill-basic suRey datr 

Coutry Rating 


WildPopulation Sl.atus: 2-extirpated 

Managoment Program: E.3-farming 

50 

Contact Richard Tan Chye Hock 


Solomon Islands 

Saftwater crocodife (c'to codylus porosus) - 

Status of Wild Populations: A survey of a large pafl 0f the

crccodilc habitat in the Solomon lslands was recenrly caried 

out by Messel and King (1990). Ahhough most of the lemaining 

suitable crocodile habitat was censuscd, only 177 nonhatchling 

crocodiles were counted (ovor 173 km=1.02lkn). 

Mosr of the crocodiles spotted wcre ar one of rfue€ freshwater 

lagoons: Lauvi lagoon (Cuadalcanal Province), 92 counredi 

llkeTatae (CenFal Province),27 counted; and thechahinhobo 

Island l-agoon (Isabel hovince), 15 counted. Crocodiles were 

rarely sighted along rivers or creeks or ill saltwalor lagoons. 

Tolal population size in the Solomon Islands was esrimared 10 

be no more fian 720. 

Managem€nt end Conservation Programs: Cufien! Iaw 

prohjbits the selling of crocodile skins wilh a belly widrh less 

than 50 cm. Cropping of wild populations has coniinued 

wilhout much rcgulation, and lhis has resulted in severe deplefion 

of rhe wild populations. All lhe hides are exported tio 

Japanese tanners. Bolton (1988) had made recommendations 

for lhc dcvclopment of a crocodile farming prograrn in the 

Sotomon Islands, but pres€ndy only I 2 small crocodile farms 

exist, wilh the largcst having only 54 animals. None of rhese 

frrms were considercd !o be viable commercial opcrarions by 

Messel and King (1990). In fieir report, Mcssel and King 

( 1990) recommcnded a loldl expo( ban on skins for ar least five 

years, and a pormanent ban on skins larger than 45 cm b€lly 

widrh. Other recommendadons included berler protecrion and 

continued moniloring of wild populations. 


Survey Data: III basic survey alata 

Wild Population Sratus: 3-sovercly depleted,/endangered 

Management Progrtun: E. l-cropping 


Survcy Data: Ill-basic sorvey data 

Wild Population Sbtus: 4-deplcted ulnerable 

Managcment Program: Clegislation 

Saltwater crocodile (Cro co.tllus potosus) 

Status of Wild Populations: A survey was conducted in the 

late 1970s by Whiraker and Wl taker (1979). Ovenll, populations 

wele found !o be very deple@d. The largest number of 

remaining C. po.or6 were found in or near the major rivers 

which drain along ihe island's southwest coast (abour 25 

bre€ding femalcs and 125 total non-hatchlings). Whirakerand 

Whitaker (f9?9) c,stimated that in rhe rest of dle island a total of 

15 ofier aduli female.s remained. Total non,hatchling population 

was €stimated to be 250. Habitat lo6s is viewed as the 

p.incipal rcason for the continued population decline. 

Management and Conservation Programs: This species is 

legally protected undcr $e Fauna and Flora heservation Ordi, 

nanceof 1938. Single specimcns may be taken under a speciat 

license (Klemm and Navid 1989). 



WildPopulalion Strtus: 3-severely depleted,/endangerod 

Maragemenl Program: Clegislation 

Contacl RomulusWhitakcr, Dr. Sarath Koiogama,Mr. Anslem 

de Silva 

Contact: G.D. Whewcll 

Muggcr 

Saltwatcr crocodile 

Sri Lanka 

Mtgger (C ro c o dylu s palu stis) 

Status ofwild Populations: The most reccnt surveys were 

conducled by WhihkerandWhitaker(1979). This sfr.ies has 

bccn largely depleted throughoul Sri lanka, but sizeable populalions 

remain, cspc.ially in Yala and Wilpalu Narional Pirks 

and at Panama Wewa. The results of this survey estimale a total 

countiy-widc non hatchling population of abour 2,800 C. 

palNrrir, and suggesl tha! Sri l-anka has the largest remaining 

wild populations of this specics. 

Manag€ment ,nd Conservation Prugrams: C. palust.is is 

prote.ted under the Fauna and Flora hor€ciion Ordinancc of 

1938, but may be hunted with a spe.ial license (Klemm and 

Navid 1989), However, litlle enforcemenr is evideni outside of 

the national parks (Whiraler and Whiraker 1989b). 



Tomisloma 

Thailand 

Saf twater crocodile (Crocotlylus potosus\ 

Status of Wild Populations: No recent survey data arD 

available. Wild populations are believcd ro be exEemely 

dcpleled. King et al. (1979) suggestcd rhat no more rhan l0 

adult C. po.oflr were left in the wild in sourhem Thailand. 

According 10 Bain and Hunphrcy (1980) rhe lasr sighring ofa 

wild C. polorru was in the area of Ko Taru|ao in Changwat 

Satun in 1971. 

Manrgemena and Conscrvation hograms: Crocodiles arc 

afforded no legal protection in Thailand (Klemm and Navid 

1989), and vinually no govomment control of imporb or 

exporls exis6. Crocodile habirar is protecred in the Tarutao 

Marine National Park (Bain and Hunphrey 198C,. 

The S anulprakam Crocodi le Farm is one ofthe largost in the 

world. Established in 1950 wilh 20 wild-caughr crocodiles, rho 

1985 stock numbercd some 14,000 crocodilians, including 

1,755 C. po.o r (Suvanakom and Youngprapakom 1987), 

51

though this is a considemble reduction from the reponed farm 

sbck in tho late 1970s and early 1980s, which was in fie 

20,000-30,000 ranee (Luxmoore et al. 1985). The farm rea$ 

crocodrles for meat (sold locally) and skins, and is also a maJo 

tourist attaction. Sixty pscenr of &c skins are process€d and 

sold locally (principally !o lourisls) and the lemainder ale 

exporlfd raw. Tbe farm is entirely self_sufficient (ic., no 

offtake from wild populations occurs) and most crcodiles are 

slaughtered at three years of age. Hybridization betwes C 

porosus utd C. sioiEnsis ltas laken Place, and in 1985 lhe farm 

reportcdhaving 710 hybrids. The commercial production ofthe 

poros8 x d4rn€ruir hybrids represents a dangemus plecedent 

from a conscrvatlon standpoinl esp€cialy for the severely 

drearened Siamese crocodile, which is extsemely rare in the 

wild. Annual production of hatchlings (fo. both species) 

averaged 4,356 from 1976 lo 1985 (Suv'nakom and 

Youngprapakom 1987). Betwe€n 1980 and 1984 lhe mean 

number of c. po.oflr hatchod was 1,082 (Luxmoore el al 

1985). Mean hatch ralE was reponed lo bo 40-50%. 


Survey Dalai I-no sufley planned 

Wild Populalion SEtus: 3-severely depleted/endangcred 

Management hograrn: E-3-farming 

JDrenllc Sl.h* qmodlle, CeodJrd rnli.Eat (Ptoto bt F w .nd 

s. King). 

C. porosus vtiltt C. sianan$r on lhe Sarnurprakam farm The 

hybridization of de species has acurally been encouraged at the 

Samueral(arn farm because the hybrids grow faster, have 

higher survivalmtes, and prcriCuce lzrger clutches (Groombridge 

1982). The hybridization was the resuh of dclibemte attempls 

10 cross the two sp€cies, and was viewed as somewhal of a 

scientific achievement by the farm management 

(Youngprapmkom 19m). Acoally,hybridizationamongmenbers 

of tho gonus Crocod)hj is no! uncommon in captrvity, and 

Siamese crocodile (crocodllus siamensis) 

represents a threat to tllc gonetic integrity of tho species involved. 

This is especially true for C. riar,'l?rt i because $crc 

Status of Wild Populatiotrs: No r€cont survey dala are 

available. This species was at one time rvidesprcad throughout 

ale no confirmod wild populalions in Thailand, ard thc bulk of 

soudeastem Asia (Thailand, laos, Cambodira, Vionam, and 

the captrvc specimens are mainlained at the SamuQrakam 

Malaysia) as well as on some of the Indonesian islands. Today 

farm, No krcwn effons havo been made to separate a pure stock 

it is considercd to be extinct throughout most of its rang€ in 

of C. rtdrr€nrir al the farm. 

Thailand. Snilh (1931) rcported it ro bc common in several 

places in Thailand (formerly Siam), although he indicalcd lhat 


a number had been shot in the area near Nakon Sawan (along the 


Chao Phrala Ri\er). Only one sito has been reporrcd sull to 

Wild Population Status; 3-severely depleted,/endangered 

conrain wild crocodiles, the Bung BoraphetReservoir in Nakhon 

Mamgemen! Programr E.3-farming 

Sawan Province, Thailand. The toial wild populalion in Thai 

land was estlmated to be 1m-2m by rflhitaLer (1982), but 

whiraker and Whitaker (1989b) suggesthat the wild population 

may only be 50, all at the Bung Boraphet Reservoir. 

Tomistoma (Tonrisroms sch.legelii) 

Howevei, the population of crocodiles at this silc has be€n Status of Wild Populations: No recent suvey data atc 

declining and no rccent sightings have b€€n made (Bain and available. This spccies was formerly found in soulhem Thai 

Humphrey 1980). Ross (in litL June 23, 1990) sugge,sts fiat land (Taylor, 1970), but rcports ftom the late 1970s indicale lhat 

wild popularions, if they remain, would be mosl likcly to b€ it has been cxlirpated from fie region, or suvives in very Iow 

found in caslem Thailand along the Cambodra or l-aos borders. 

Management and Cons€rvation Programs: According to Manag€ment and Conservation Programs: Legally prolccled 

by Ministerial Rcgulation in 1982 (Klemm and Navid 

croombridge (1982) this species is legally protecl€d in Thailand, 

and the Bung Boraphot Resorvoir is a non-hunting area- I989). Tbnrrron is maintained in captivity atlhe Samutprdkam 

However, Klemm and Navid (1989) repon that C. rrdn4al|J is Cro.odile Farm, wherc lhe 1985 slock nunbered 200+ (including 

five adults). Despite claims to the contary, it appears thal 

nol pro@cted by law. 

Allhough pcrhaps rxunct in fie wild. $i5 species is numerous 

in captivity in Thailand. Tho reported 1985 stock al lho SamuFrakam, and that all the animals have come from thc 

no captive breeding of Tomistoma has bcen done at 

Samueratarn Crocodrle Fann was 7,?8O (Suvanakom and wild. The only confirmcd captive breedings havo be€n in the 

Youngprapakom 198?). The farm has made an offer to lhe Thar Bronx Zoo ard the Miami Metrc Zoo (J. Behler, pers. comm.). 

govemment io provide crocodiles for restocking pograms, but 

as yet no such program has beeo developed. 


A major conservation concem has be€n the interbreeding of Survey Data: I-no survey planned 

52

Wild Population Status: 3-severely depleted,/endangered 

Mamgemenr Program: Clcgislation 

Contad: Phairot Suvanakom, Charoon Youngpmpakorn, Dr. 

Pamtep Ratanakom 


Survey Data: trI-basic survey alata 

Wild Population Slaius: 3-s€verely depleted,/endangered 

Managemen! Progmm: B-none 

Contacl Prof. Harry Messel, M.R. Chafibers , D. Essom 


Yanuatu 

Saltwater crocodile (Ctucodllus porosus) 

Status ol Wild Populations: Groombridge (1982) cires 

Dickinson (198 l) who roporled thal thc main crocodile population 

(approximately 50) is locared in rhe Silver River on 

Vanua kva in the Banks Island group, with isolarEd individuals 

bcing sigh@d on south Espiritu Santo and we$ Malo. This is rhe 

eastemmost rcponed nnge for the species. Oocodiles of all 

sizes have been sighted, indicaling that breeding is raking place. 

In 1983, D. Le€ders reponed on a survey of Vanua Lava in 

Naiba,The Journal of thz Vanu.otu Natutal Science Societj. He 

saw no crocodiles. The Banks Island group is also locatcd only 

a few hunalred milos from Vanikolo Island in the Sanla Cruz 

group of the Solomon Islands, where a small population is 

known to exist (H. Messel, pers. comm.). Sporadic hunring of 

crocodilcs ha-s been reported (Groombridge 1982). 

M.R. Chambers and D. Essom of lhe Environment Unit, 

Ministry of l-ands, Pon Vila, Vanuatu, surveyed crocodiles in 

1989. They reportcd lhat the available habira! for the crocodiles 

appears to bo exlensive and in good condition but thar there are 

very few crocodiles remaining on the island, p€rhaps only two 

or tlree. No young have bcen seen for several ye.ars and it 

appears that bre€ding has ceased. Local p€ople bclicve thal 

crccodiles were accidenlally introduced to Vanua Lava in the 

nid-191h century. Crocodiles are reported to have been decimated 

by cyclones and by t'cing shor. The crocodile population 

now appears !o b€ notr-viable. Crocodiles are unpopular arnong 

thc islanders as lhey are thoughr ro ear domesric srock and havc 

recendy begun to altack people. In view of lhe expense and 

difficulty ofbuilding up the crocodile population, it was recommended 

that noliing bc done to save the crocodiles from 

probable extinction, which would mean a shrinkagc of rhc 

crocodiles' extensive range. This recommendarion is contre 

versial and could be op?osed by many conservationists. 



Vietnarn 

Saltwater crocodile (Crcco.lylus potosus) 

Status of Wild Populstions: No rccent survey data are 

available. Some jnformation fiom the mid- 1970s suggesG that 

this species was still found in d|0 lower Mekong River and the 

Rung Sat Swamp (Nowak 1976). 

ManagementandConservetionhoglams: Apparondythere 

is no legal protection for this spcciqs (Whiraker and Whiraker 

1989b). 


Survey Data: I-no suney planned 

Wild Population Stalus: l-unknown 

Managenent Program: B-none 

Siamese crocodife (Crocodylus siamensis) 

Statui of Wild Populations: hesumed to have been present 

in Vieham in lhe lower Mekong River. Irs preseni slatus is 

unhown, though therg are recurent reports that subsrandal 

numben occur on farms. Thero may still be importanr populalions 

in tle wild. 

Managem€nt and Cons€rvaaion Programs: C. siamensis 

do€s not havo legal prote.tion (Whitaker and Whitaker 1989b). 

Counhy Rating 


Wild Popdation S|alu3: l-unkrcwn 

Managemeni Progam: B-nonc 

Management and Cons€rvation Programs: Nonc. 

Contacr Prof. Vo Quy 

5l


North and South America 

Broad-snourcd caiman 

Argentina 

Broad-snouted caiman (Caimon latirostis\ 

Status ofwild Populations: Waller (198?) Evie.rs theknown 

disFibution ofbofr species of Cd,run in Argentina bul does not 

preseni dala on cu[ent status. This spelies war reponed to be 

extirpated in the Pilcomayo, Paraguay, and the lower Paran6 in 

the provinces of Jujuy, Fomosa, Chaco, Sada Fe, and Ertre 

Rios (Freiberg, in Groombridge 1982). However, Scou et al. 

(1988) found C. latircsnis in the Pilcomayo in ParaSuay 

adjaccm to Fomosa, and King and Videz Roca (1989) also 

repo( it in thc Pilcomayo of Bolivia near the border of Argentina 

and Paraguay. A population, which numbered approxirnalely 

3m individurls in l9?9, was repoi€d to rcmain in fic 

Iguazd National Park in Missiones province. A larger number 

(5,000-7,000) was rcponcd from tic Esteros del Ibere in 

Corricntcs (Gioombridge 1982). Waller (1989) reported a 

population of 5U!800 subadufu and adult C. larirorrla on a 

10,m0 ha cattle mnch in Corrientes. 

Manag€ment and Conservation Programs: Caiman arc 

prolected by a ban on commercial hunting. According !o 

Klemm and Navid (1989) the hunting of lhis spccics is regulated 

by state laws, fo|which no information is available. 

Interstate and intenntional commerce is banned by federal law 

(ActNo. 22.421 of 1981). 

No nalional management program has bcen enacted but a 

number of privatc individuals are starting farmjng projecrs 

(Anon. 1987). I-arricra (1990) repons on plans !o cstablish a 

population moniloring pmgram and a management program 

bascd on egg collection and rearing for reinroduclioo into the 

wild. 

Coontry Rating 

Survey Data: III basic survcy data 

Wild Populalion Status: 4-depleted/vulnerable 

Management hogram: E.3'fdrming 

Yacare (Caiman yacarc) 

extremely depleted. However, Fitch and Nadeau (in 

Groombridge 1982) estimated population size in llle Esleros del 

Iber, in Corrientes province !o be 200,000. Onone 10,0m ha 

ranch in Corientos, wallor (1989) cstimates the C. ydcarc 

population to be l,mo adults and subadulc. 

Manag€ment end Conservation PrograDs: See C, lali/rJtis 

account above. Rcccnlly, private commercial interest in farning 

has developed (Anon. 1987). 


Suvey Data: Ill-basic survey data 

Wild Population Slatus: 4 dcplcted/wlnerable 

Management Programr E.3-farming 

Contact Jorge Luis Cajal, Claudio ChehCbar, Dra. Pia 

Urruzuno, Tomds Waller, Alejandro Larricra, Fundaci6n Vida 

Silvestre Argentina (Grupo Herpetofauna) 

Morelgt s crocodile 

Belize 

American crocodile (Crocodylus aculus) 

Status of Wild Populationsr No systcmadc surveys have been 

done for C. d.uar in Belize. A ClTEs-sponsorcd survcy is 

cunently being planned. Powcll ( 1971) rcponed thar C. d.rrrr 

was raro on thc mainland bul morc common on offshore islands. 

More re.ent ret)ofls suggest lhat somc of $ese offshore populations 

may have be€n extirpated (King e, dl. 1982). Thc survcy 

by Ab€rcrombiet al. (1980) failed ta find any C- acutus. 

Howcvcr. intcrviews wilh hunte$ and fomer skin exlnrters 

suggesr fiat American crocodiles are widely distributed along 

thc coasdinc of Belize, including a number of offshore alolls. 

The largest remaining populalion was said to b€ on Tumeffe 

Island, where a nesting population of 500,6{X} animals was 

reponed in the early 1980s. The species is considcrcd !o bc 

rclatively common and increaring duc 10 a tan on hunting 

(Perkins 1983.). 

Strtus of Wild Popul|fions: Freiberg (in Groombidgc 1982) Management and Cons€rvation Programs: Upon ataining 

and Medem (1983) reporied populalions in $e l97G 1o be independence 

1981 Belize passed a comprchcnsive "Wild- 

54

life Prot€ction Acf' and banned commercial wildlife rade for 

a period of seven years (Fuller et al. 1985). The govemmenr has 

no active management policy regarding crocodrlians; howover, 

at th€ request of tho Belize govemment, a CITES survey is 

planned to begin in 1991. 

Counhy Raling 

Survey Data: Il-surveys planned 

Wild Population Stalus: 4-depleted/wlnerablo 

Managemenl Program: Clegslal.ron only 

Black €ainan 

Dwarf caiman and Smooti-fronled caiman 

Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostis') 

StatusofWildPopulations: S urveys by King and Videz Roca 

(1989) show that C.latitustris is critically endangered in 

Bolivia. King and Videz Roca visited most of the species 

localiries as reported by Medem (1983), and found the spccics 

Bfack caiman (Meranosuchus niger) 

Status of wild Populations: Black caiman were hislorically 

widespread throughout florthem and eastem Bolivia, but were 

still extant in only one of the localities (Rio Pilcomayo) and in heavily impacrcd by hidc huming during the period 1942- I 0 

vcry low numbers. A small number of lhis species were 

reported by hide hunters and buyeN !o be still found in pans of 

tho Rios Itenez, Mamorc, and the Beni. 

(Plorkin et al. 1983). S urveys in 1986- 1987 found black caiman 

to still be disributed throughoul mosr of its historical range, bul 

in very low numbers (King and Vidcz Roca 1989). Very few 

individuals, mosllyjuvenilcs or sub adulls, were encounlercd. 

Managem€nt atrd Conservation Programs: Alrhough C. Illegal commcrcial hunling is still taking place, indicating thal 

ldliro$ri.r is not specifically mentioncd in thc wildlifc prolcc in somc areas Mela,rs!.l,a may still be found in reasonable 

tion lcgislalion, fiis specios is generally included in fte regula- 

numbers. but fiesc populadons are fast disappeffing. Repro- 

rions dealing wi|lr Cd;nzn crocodilus (Jacare). Cainan ate 

prot€cted by law (Decreto Supremo 16605), but illegal hunting 

has continued unabarcd (King and Videz Roca 1989). 

Country Rathg 

Suvey Data: Ill-basic survey data 

Wild Population Sorus: 3-severely depleted/endangered 

ManagementProgam: Clegislation only 

Y^care (Caiman lacdre) 

Morefet's crocodile (Cro Status of Wild Populaaions: Following Medem (1960. 1983) 

cod.ylus moreletii) 

and King and Burke (1989, Cainan Jacare is consldcrcd zf]ul| 

Sratus of Wild Populatiobs: Powell (1971) repored that lhis species. Surveys conducted in 1986-1987 found Ihis species in 

sp€cies v,/as severely deplercd in Bolize. More reaently, vi(ually all bodies of wal€r $roughout lowland Bolivra, although 

usually at low densities (King and Videz Roca 1989). 

Abercrombie e/ al. (1980) surveyed much of fte northem half 

ofBelize. They found crocodilcs to be gellcrally deplcted, but Populations in easily accessible areas havo bccn largcly dcci. 

reladvely abundant is several areas, and estimated [he lotal C. maled. Densities ranged from 0.0/km in somo rivers to 70.04m 

norcletiiV)pnlatjo't(geater than nino months ofage) as 2200- in ono late. The overall mean density from 18 sites was 5.04m, 

2,500. These figures were corsidered to be underestimates. ahhoush in most areas densities were below 2.0/km. 

Nothing is known about population skrus in the southem half 

ofthe counEy. 

Management end Conservation Prugrams: Although prote.ted 

by legislation .,vhich regulates a wild harvesl prognm 

Managemenl and Conser va tion Programs: Prore{don slal us (Decreto Supremo 16606 of 19?9; Klcmm and Navid 1989), 

is the same as for C. dcrr(r. A CITES survey has b€€n requesl€d ilegal hunting is stil widespr€ad (King and videz Roca 1989). 

by the govemmenl. 

The minimum legal size for commercial hunting ofc. )acafe is 

1.5 m. A closed huniing season exisls fiom I July lo 3l 


December. 


The expo( of Cd,ru, hides from Bolivia is under a quoia 

Wild Population Status: 4-depleied,/wlnerable 

sysrem. ]n 1985. a quora of 1m,0m was establishcd as pan of 

MaMgementProgram: C-legislation only 

a cooperative agreement between CITES and the Bolivian 

Foresry depanment (CDD. Annual quolas for 1986-1987 

Conbct: Oscar Rosado, Dr. Clarence Abercrombie, Howard werc established at 50,000, bur tkee separatc dircclors of CDF 

Hunt, hot F. Wayne King 

ilega y sold the CITES expon documents lo hidc cxponers in 

Paraguay (King and Vidcz-Roca 1989). The exportof lm,m0 

registered skins was permitted in 1988 under CITES cooperative 

agreement, but was stopped in 1989. Because of fte illcgal 

Bolivia 

sale of the CITES country of origin export f,ermits, at the 

prcscnt timc CITES no longcr accepls Bolivian pemiLs. 

Broad-snouted caiman 



Wild Population Status: 4-deplercd,/wlnerable 

Management Prografi : E. l-cropping 

55

duclivo populations of this species are reponed to be found 

within the protected ar€ of the Beni Biological Station (E. 

Ruiz, pers. comm.). 

Broad-snouied caiman 

Black caiman 

Dwarf caiman and Smmth-fronted caiman 

Managemetrt and Co$erlafion Programs: hior to 1979, 

Bolivian laws permitted the legal cropping of wildMddn s!cr6 

populations (Decreto Supremo 08063 of 1967). Hunting was 

prohibil€d between 3l July and I January, ard the minimun 

legal size was 2.5 rn (I,tedem 1983). Nevefioless, these 

regulations had litle effect in controlling rhe widespread hunting. 

Pres€nlly, thc species is fully protected under Decreto 

Supremo 16606 of 1979 (Klemm and Navid 1989), but sone 

inegal huniing conrinues (Kirg and Videz-Roca 1989). 

In August, 1990, a btal of 25 adult black caiman (>2.2 m 

total length) were rcleased in the hguna Normandia. locaied 

adjacento lhe Beni Biological Strtion nea San Borja. These 

animals came from a group of app'roximately 150 captive 

individuals on lhe El Dorado catde ranch whcre they had been 

brought, in the late l9?0s, forthe establishment ofa commercial 

farrn. The rclease project was sfronsorod by PRODENA, a 

Bolivian conservation goup, in association with lhe Beni 

Biological Shtion and theowners ofElDomdo. Plans arc bcing 

made !o monitor the released caiman, 


Survey Data: Ill-basic survey dala 

Wild Population Status: 3-severely deplctcd/endangered 

Managemenr hogram: D-resro(kn&/reinrroducrion 

Dwarf caiman (Pare osuchus palpebrcsus) 

and Smooth.fronted eaiman (Pabosuchus 

ligonatusl 

StatusofWild Popdatiotrs: Meden (1983) did not consider 

P. trigonatus rob. rare inBolivia. King and Videz Rffa ( 1989) 

noted that bolh sp€cies arc commonly found in nonhem Bolivia 

b$only P. palpebosus s:curs in ihe central and sou$castem 

pans of lhe count y. Owing lo the lack of commercial hunting 

of these species, populations are healthy. 

Management and Conservation Programs: Both species of 

PaleosuchLt arc f\lly prctected under Decrero Supremo 16606 

of 19?9 (Klemm and Navid 1989). 



Wild Population Status: 5-not deplered 

Management Prcgram: C-legislation only 

Contact: GeronimoGrimaldez Cordcro, Danre H. Videz Roca, 

Dr. Mario Baudoin W., Luis Femando Pach€co Acosra, Proi F. 

Wayne King, Emesto Ruiz Richi 

Common caimar 

Brazil 

56 

Common caiman (Caiman crccodilus) 

Strtus ofwild Populations: C. c/acodillrj is found throughout 

rhe Anzz on drainage. The hxonomic differentiation of Cdrna, 

crocodilus ftom Cainan Jacd.e is still somewhat unclear and 

there may b€ a zone of hybridizatioolntergradation with C. 

)dcdre in the tuo Madeira (Brazaitis et al. 1990). 

A numb€r of population surveys havo been conducted in $e 

Brazilian Amazon for this species. Vanzolini and Gomes 

(1979) survoyod parts of thc Rlo Japua and found Ca;run ro be 

rclaiively commo . Magnusson (1979,1982) censused hgo 

Amana (effluont of the Rio Japu.a), areas near rhe ciry of 

Manaus, and the Amazonas Nadonal Park on the Rio Tapajos 

^nd lotrnd Cainan populations !o bo high in most areas. 

Coin , densities in $e Rio Tapajos ranged from 0.674m to 

6.43/km (33 km surveyed). Magnusson (1982) statcs that 

hunting for Car'nar is widespread in the Brazilian Amazon but 

thar the species is resilient !o this hunting pressure becausc i! 

bre€ds at a small size. This is supporled by size data from 

confiscated skins (Reb€lo and Magnusson 1983). 

Manegem€nt and Cons€rvation Programs: All species of 

crocodilians are protect€d by Brazilian law banning commorcial 

hunting (Klemm and Navid 1989). However, widespread 

illegal hunting occurs and skins are smuggled across the tlordors 

to Colombia, Bolivia, and Paraguay (Brazaitis et al. 1990). 


Suney Data: Ill-basic survcy data 

Wild Population Status: 5-not dcpleted 

Managemenihogram: Clegislation only 

Yacare (Caiman yacare) 

Status of Wild Popufatiots: Cainan tacarc is Winci,pally 

found in the Rio Paraguay dminage, the Panbnal, and nonh 

along fie Rio Guapore (Rio Mamore in Bolivia). A rcconl 

CITES sponsored survey covered most of the range of this 

sp€cies in Brazil (Brazaitis cl al. 1990). Recent widcspread 

hunting of Cdirzn has takcn place throughout most of soulh 

cenEal Brazil, and habitat loss and environmenlal pollution are 

also negatively impacting Cdinzr populations in rhe states of 

Acrc, Rondonia, and Maro Grosso. Popularions have declined 

dramatically in mosrareas, although in lhe Pantanal and in some 

inaccessible regions of Malo Grosso C. )dcd,'d are still classified 

as "common"( 15,30/trn; Brazairis et al. 1990). However. 

hunting has al@red population structure and a male-bias€d sex 

ratio wiih few large individuals is typical. Caiman have 

managed to survive in presenl numben oi y because of 6eir 

gr€at resilience !o hunting (rcprcducing a! a small size), lhcir 

ability !o adapt ro differenl habil.at r1pes, and their abiliry lo 

be.omc cxtrcmcly secretive and wary @razaids ct al. 1988). 

Management and Cons€Fation Programs: Despi@ the 

oudawing of commercial huding (Act No. 519'7 of 1967,

- 

Klemm and Navid I989) in BraTil, poaching is commonptace. (Verdadoandllvorenti 

r-ocat.hunkrs 

l9m)andportariaof 

lperate throughout 

13.5.1973(Klemm 

extensive ar€as of Acre, and Navid 1989), 

Knonoonra! 

but this has 

and no4hem 

done lide 

Malo C rosso, 

to reduce hunring. 

H unting is done during Commercially 

the dry 

orienled 

se€son, 

mnch€s 

and skins 

have 

are 

begun 

transported 

operatons 

down 

ur 

river 

tlle 

with lh; slare^s ol Sao paulo 

nsng waler and 

te vels Rio Cmnde 

ofrhe early rar do Sut 

ny season. The Rio Abuna 

lerazaits eL at. 

and I 9o0). The 

rne Krouluporeare 

Uni versiry of Sao paulo 

majorco is developing 

eation rouFs 

a program 

tor sk in puJc 

of 

hasers. capu.ve 

Shipmenrs 

ng 

of thousanG of skins are reFbrred |I) move soultt 

.breedr 

tor reinroduction of bis species in Brazil 

(L,M. Verdade. pers. 

e:rcn yqr 

comm.), 

tlom Manaus to Abuna or BrasiUa, and $en into 

Bolivja. Hunting in rho pa{anal of Mato G.osso and Mato Country Rating 

Grorso du Sul is also i ensive, ard done largety by groups of Survey 

protesslonaj 

Data: Il-surveys planned 

nunlers who move into dle a€a during dr dry 

s€ason and operate on private iands wilh o. withour the 

owners pemission. jand_ 

Wild Popularion SElus: J-severely depleted/endangrred 

Maragement program: 8.2_mnchins 

Hides move ftom Brazil direftly (or 

indire.rly"drough Bolivra) |o Asuncidn, paraguay. The toral 

vorume or ndes bernS smuSgled ou!ofBrazij each year is hard Black caiman (Melanosuchus 

lo estimare, bur a figure of rriger) 

one million per year may no! be an 

exaggeraton (Bra"aitis e.al. 1988). 

Status of Wild populations: Black caiman were al one lme 

Plans for devotoping a managemen! prograrn for rhe 

found 

species 

rhroughoul much of the Brazilian Amazon, but loday 

are underway, Two govrmment age ncies, the Insti tuto Brasijeiro 

have bern_exrirpated from many of r}ese areas @totkin er j. 

d_e Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis 

rydr). Hrde-hunDng *as parrjcularty inrense in 

(IBAWA,. and Cenko-de pesquisa Agropecuaria do panranat 

the early t950s 

(tsrtrau la?l). but was sri[ in evidence in the lale 1970s 

rcM 6KffA, areconduflng jnvesdSadons on de eroloSy 

fMagnusson 

ot 

I 97qJ. Magnusson ( I S79 r fou nd a smal I popula_ 

wlld popu tartons, Three private organ ?ations are also in volved 

uon ot M etaMsuchus in tllte Tapajos Naliona I park. Th; lalgest 

In Cdlrnz, srudies. Fundacao Estadual ed Meio Ambienk 

concenfaion was in a small lale. tlgo das piranas, where lo 

fFEMA) is conducring surveys for C. )a.dre in tne pantanal. rnolv@uats were se€n overa dis|anceof3 

:oc'e9ad dj Defensa km. BrazaiuseLal, 

do panlanal (SODEPAN) ( and 

| 988. llle 

| 990) rclon har he spec ies is seriously deplekd dmugh_ 

Associacao Brasileim de Criadores de Jacare are supporling 

oul cenFal 

lhe 

and southem Brazil, bul did find toc.alized popuia_ 

govemmenasef fons Locnrck down on poa.hing in |nc panlanaj. rions h fte Rio catera in Mato Crosso, the Rio Madeim in 

A numDcr of. govemmenr-sponsorcd and prirvatr- c. yacarc 

Amazonas, and the t ago region ar Amape. 

rancnes nave begun op(radon ( BrazaiUs et al , I og0). 

Msnagement and Conservation prograns: As wtLh all 


wrrdrde.commerciaj hunring of |}le blackcaiman isprohibirrd. 

Survey Data: trI-basic survey dara 

Nr verlhe less. f'oach ing conrin ues. No ranching opcralions tor 

Wild Popularjon St2rus: 4_deplered/wtnerable 

M eranosuc hus ue kr'ovrn at this time in Brazil. 

Management hogran: E.2_mnchins 

Country Rstitrg 


Wild Populalion 

Broad-snouted 

Saru-s: 

caim an (Caiman .}-severety depter€d/endangercd 

latirostris) Managemenr hogram: C-lesistadon ontv 

Status.of Witd poputalions: poputations have dectinedra_ 

maucary due !ooverfiunting. bu I local ized popu lal ions remain, 

v anzot I n' ( r n Uroombndge I a82 ) reponcd rhar rhe specics was 

Dwatf caiman ( Paleos uchus palpe brosus) 

s! | |,reasonabty abundant alonS rhe coa$ of Sergipe. bur 

and 

onty 

Smooth-fronted cainan lpAkosuchu s 

snall individuak muld be tound. Cudyas rin Croombndge 

,ngonatust 

re62 ) atso repoflrd populal |ons berween porlo A_legre and ;e Stalus of Wild 

Uruguayan 

Populatioos: 

border 

Magnusson ( I979) found 

olgoa dos palos, Lagoa 

mod_ 

Merim). yarnashita 

o.:.lu:. -)of p. 

:ff 

!.19 

rn8,n,r/Jin 

Ur€rs. comm.) relx)ns $at good 

rhc Rio Tapajos 

tnputarionsare found in de Rio Natfonal Park 

r_roce 

{49.8 km svteyedl. No p. 

{csp|ll!o5an!osrak). 

patp?brost/s 

In$esao 

*ere 

Ma|fusareainnorrlem s4en and oc 

Espidto 

species *as 

Santo 

as.umed 

staie, especially 

no! to occur 

near 

In $e park. 

ConceiEao da Bara, this Bra/aius er al. (19q0) 

specres 

repo4ed 

rs common 

Dat borh 

wherc 

species 

habiht 

were uidety 

is avaiiable. Bra"aitis et al. 

(1990) 

d$mbuted $roughout 

nole 

cenFaj 

fial 

Brazil, 

hunring pressures 

although the 

on lhij 

souLhem 

spccies have nor rrm rls ot Ocrr 

oecrned 

clistribulion 

srgnrticanuy 

:ue unclear. 

since 

Ahhough 

$e 

limi|ed 

imptcmenhlion 

h un r. 

ol Lhc CTTES mg occurs, rt does not 

ueaty.bu 

seem 

lhar 

!o have 

locatty 

had 

common populationse 

much of a negative 

srinfiesarof lmpact on poputation 

raol,auto, 

levels. 

tre(|des commcrciaj hde cxploihrion, much ofde 

nunlrng pressure is of a subsislcnce naturc (Brazatlis et al. \{anaSernfnt atrd Conservalion programs: pat?osuchu: 

r988). 

is 

legaily prolecled from commercial udlizarion. 

Managem€nt and Conserr/ation pr ogr .mr6: C aina n lat i ro s tr is 

ls prolec@d by law in Brrzit; Fedcral Law No. 5.197 of 1967 


Survey Dara: trI-basic survey data

'Wiltl Populauon Status: 5-not &ple@d 

Management Pmgraln: Clegislation only 

Conract: Fmncisco R. alos S. Breyer, Zilca Campos' Renalo 

iln*. or. w;tt ut Magnusson. Guilherme Borges George 

n.*io, noU.* Sot tl , ,qrnenco Ribeiro Tunes 'orilan 

W^liuo".. Crttos yu.".ttita, Peter Brazaitis, Luclano Martins 

Verdade, Dr. Abel l,arorenl] 

Colombia 

Orinoco crocodile 

Common caiman 

Black caiman 

Dwarf caiman and Smoolh-fronted caiman 

Orinoco crocodile (Cro codilus intennedius) 

Status of Wild PopulatioN: No recent survoys havc been 

conducted. bu! populalons ot C. inl€rtrdiB art lnown to be 

a.ofi,"a i" colombia l4€dem (1974 1976) sur' 

"*"...i" 

'""J 'r," CifornU- llanos in 1974 and 1976 and found 

. ia*.. of onfy Zm c.ocodiles throughoul a large pan of 

"Ouft 

,fr. At*"g., of rhe Arauca. Casanare Met2 and vichatla 

Manag€menl atrd Conservatlotr Programs: The Orinoco 

crocJte is tcgutty p.orer Lea in Colombia bul dris has had lilde 

effect on hunling (Medom 1969). No othor managemen' 

Drogmms are currently underway alliough fiegovemmenL nas 

'reoiesoa 

a ctrEs sponsorcd suNey of the counry Regula_ 

tions pcrtaining rc the commorcial rearing ofthis spocics are the 

*ln"'* fo. c.i.u,rr, lu, no known faflning operations aro in 


Survev Dat : ll'surveys Planned 

American crGodile (Crocodllus acutus) 

wild ioDulation SuLus: J-severely depleledlcndangered 

Status of Wild PoPulations: The work of Medem (summarirea 

t ueae* t gtit) t as lefl litt]o doubt that populations of C' 

Maizgemeni Prograrn: Clegislation only 

acals in Colombia were extremoly deplelcd ftom thc 1950s 

tlfouqh fie 1970s. Isolated populaiions may still remain in the 

Common caiman (c aiman ctocodilus) 

iower"anrt midtlle Magdalena River' and in its tribularies (the 

Cauca and the San Jorge rivers) where dense m'ts of wator Status of Wild Populations: Populations of Cainan in Colombia 

are dividcal inlo four subspecies: C c cfudpari r along 

i'rlr]inrh Gichnrnia cmssiper) make hunting difficuh (Medem 

t!sti. litteisrnownatouttheslabsof populationsalongthe the Pacific coasl analhe Caribbean coast as far east as lhe Sinu 

paciiic coast. The Colombian govomment has requested a Rivcr, C. c.&rc!r on lhe Caribboan coast east of the Sinu river' 

CITES sponsored surveY 

C. c. croco(lilus in the inlerior Groco and Am^zon nver 

ialnageT., anl c . c. apapolierrir in the Apaporis River in the 

,q-rr;dtrn^n.. No recenl survey da|a are available lnfor 

Manacementand Conservation Programs: Since 1969'al 

mal suruels by-Medem and Foote in the Io?0s ( N'ledem l98l) 

crocodtans haue been prolecrcd by Colombian law ( Klemm 

sussesled rhat poPulalons were depleled in $e Amazon ano 

and Navid 1989), bul this has apparentb dorc litde to cofltrol 

oin'o.o a-inag... u,tt rttat reladvelv h€ahhy populalionsdll 

hunLine (N'{cdem 1981.) A lolai oi 22 crocodrlian farms have 

existed in some aroas. Illegal hunting was rcponcd to De 

been lr;ensed b) lheColombian sovemment of qhich threearc 

common,andle small size oflhe skins indicatrs thal theadull 

aothonzed 10 rear C. aarl6. Noar the lown of Zambrano' 

ooDulation has becn o\erhunted (Medem 1980) The lillle_ 

Monlerfev Foteslal. a timbcr company has begun a capLilc 

ino*n subsp""ies C opdrrje,rir is apparendy rcstlicled to 

rearine oioamm for cro(odilrans lnilral eork has becn sjlh 

". 

Lhe uooereqions of $e Apaporis river in sou$easlem Colomlia. 

iince rhe onginal worl done by Medem very litdc is 

caiin ,rircdilus, but pLans call for lhe development ol a 

.on.e.ation nrogtam and evenLual commercial rearing of C 

known about the status of wild populations of this subspecies' 

arrr|r. Capr ive breeding of C. d.rlls brgan in I c87 lRodriguc 7 

The Colombian govemmenl has tequested a CITES survoy ot 

1988). Ac;ording to Coiombian legislation penaining to farms' 

the counry's crocodilians 

utitiiation of farm-reai€d animals can only bc of 

"ommercial 

second seneration caplive individuals. and 5ry' of Lbc young 

Manacement and Conservaiion Ptograms: Cainatl 8e 

producJ mustbe rerumedl,othe Inslr lulo Nac ional deRecursos 

nomi;lv proLectcd by law inColombia ln recent years a large 

i\alurales tINDERENA) tor use in resto(king prognms Thc 

numtcrollai,zan farmshavc snrted Thc Colombian govemment 

reponed 2z reg;stered Cdrnan farms in 1989 Many of 

ioundc r sLoct ot tarms can be derjved from $e (aplure ol wrld 

inJi'iauur. (*irrt - uuoto.ired permit), but cannot exce€d l0 

thes€ farms are also planning to re3r C aclr/r or other anlmars 

aninals. and all captive animals mustbe markcd Eesoludon N' 

such as iguana or capybara. Farms are rcquired to obhln 

0017-8?). 

Dermitst;Lalc breedingstock from the wild and ale obugalcd 

io re$m 57. of dre voung producad lo INDERENA for the 


resbckrng of w;ld populations (M. Rodrigucz' pers comm ) 

Survoy Data; Il-surveys Planned 

rrr" rnunie, ian x rafen from the wild (sith an authorized 

permit). but may not cxce€d 4,000 individuals (Resoluiion 

wildPoDulation Siatus: 3-sevcrely deplercd/endangered 

"o.f 

Managemcnt hogam: E.3-farming

N.0017-87). Ranching or cropping programs are illegal. No 

commercial rcaring of c. .. aryoiensis isljf.irnifled. 


Survcy Dara: tr'surveys planned 

Wild Popuiarjon Srarus: 4-dcplered/wtncrable 

Managemert Prograln: E.3,farming 

Black caiman (M"ra nosuchus niger) 

Dr. Jorge Hemrndez-Cainacho, Jesfs Emeslo pach6n, Josc 

Vicente Rodrfquez M., Miguel A. Rodriquez, Ricardo 

Schmalbach R. 

American crocodile 

Common caiman 

Costa Rica 

Status of Wild Popularions: Black caiman were at one rime 

abundant in the Colombian Amazon rcgion from rhe southem 

cily of kticia to lhe Rio Atacuari along the border wilh peru, 

and in the Putumayo, Caqueld, and lower Apaporis rivers 

(Plotkin et al. 1983). Commerciat hide hunling began in the 

1940s and populations were lapidly depleted. Wild popularions 

of black caiman have b€cn vinuatly cxtirpated in Colombia. 

Surveys by biologists in the l9?0s found very few individuals 

in the Amazon and Puramayo region (plotkin e, al. 1983). 

the lower Tempiique (mean 3.7km). Fuller nores $ar crocodiles 

appear to be widoly distribuied Ihmughouthe lowlanals of 

Cos|a R ica. Al Isbadl (pers. comm. ) reporB th is spec ies rs more 

commonly found along rhe Pacific coast, and that stable populations 

occur in the Tempisque, Tarcoles, and San Carlos rivers, 

Management and Cons€*ation programs: Melantsuchuj 

has be€n legally prorected in Colombia since 1969 wirh the and in Santa Rosa and Cotcovado National parks. This spe.ies 

implemenhtion of a rotal b6n on hunring Gesolution No. 4 t l). is not hunred commercially, but numerous Foblem crocodiles 

Hunting and egg collection is also specificatty banned for arc kiled annually. 

Melantsuchu.s (II.,IDERENA Resolorion No. 5j3 of t969i 

PIo&in er dl. 1983), but lilde cnforcemenr has b€on in effect and Mahagement and Cons€rvation Programs: Croccrliles have 

sigrificant commercial hide hunring continued into the 1970s. been logally protected in CosE Rica since 1970. Thc cunent 

Regulations perlaining ro thc commercial rearing ofthis sp€cies legislation is Decrelo 15273A of 1984 (Klemm and Navid 

are tllc same as lor C, arlrt(, bur noknown tarming opfmlions 1989). An experimenral fam, presumably for borh sp€cies, has 

are in existence, 

bccn proposed by Bolanos (pcrs. comm.) for bolh conscrvation 

and economic purposes. 


Survey Da|a: Il,su.veys planned 

Wild Population Siarus: 3-severely deplered/endangercd 

Management hograrn: Clegislation only 

American crocodile (Crcco.btlus scutus) 

StNtus ofwild Populations: Fu[e. (1983) conducred preliminary 

surveys fo. crocodilians in lhe Torlrguero and Tempisque 

rivors. Only one juvedle crocodile was observed in lhe 

TortuSuero River, but crocodiles were relatively abundan! in 

Counary Rating 

Survey Dala: trI-basic survey dara 

Wild Populadon S|atus: 4-depleted/vulnerable 

Managemcn! Program: Clegislation only 

Dwarf caiman (Pa&osuchus polpebrosus) 

and Smooth-fronted caiman' lP;leosuchus Common caiman (Caira an crccoalilus) 

tigonatus) 

Status of Wild Populations: Reponed lo bc common in wct 

Status of Wild Populations: Very lirrle is known aboui thc lowland areas throughour the entirc counFy (J. Allsr€adi pers. 

slatus of these species in the wild, They are s€arctive sp€ci€s. comm.). Allsteadt has been conducting surveys of rhe Cd,nrn 

rarely scen by day. Becauso of their highty developed population in the Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge, where 

osleoderms, virtually no hide-hunling for these spccies has thc population is recovering from intense hunting pressure 

crcuffed. Howcver, in many areas they a_rc killed for food, (which slopped in 1980 widr lhe end of illegat Eade drough 

cspccially by indigenous rribes, orby hide hunlers wnen mls, Nicaragua). Total Cainah Wpu,lai]tr,n size m the area was 

t*cn f$ Cainan crccodillr (Mcdcm l98l). Mcdem (1981) estimaled lo b€ over 2,500, with dry scason densities up !o 166/ 

considered these species nor lo be €ndangered in Colombia. ha in lagoons, and avemge dcnsities in.ivcrs and canals being 

854m. Annual surveys belw€€n 1986 and 1989 indicare thal 

Managem€ntand Conservation Progmms: Bolh species of the caiman plopulation has increas€d. Nesting is ftequent and 

Paleosuchus arc Worc.ted under Colombian law. 

fte population apprars ro be recovering rapidly. 


Survey Data: Il-surveys planned 

Wild Populadon SLarul; 5-not depleled 

ManagcmentProgram: Clegislalion only 

Contact: OIga Victoria Casuno-Mora, c6man Garcia Duren, 

Managementand Conservation Programs: Cos|aRica has 

had strict wildlite pror€crion laws since 1970. Cainu^ ue 

currenlly prolected under rhe D€crelo 15273A of 1984. There 

is a ban on commercc in wildlife, and the Subdireccion ceneml 

de Vida Silvestre allows commercial expons of wildlife only 

from registered captive bre€ding ccnrers (Fuller €! al. 1985). 

59

An experimental commelcial farm was b€ing eslablished along facility r€ceiving an estimated 17,000 visiiors annually (J 

tlle Atlantic coastnear Siquircs in 1984 (Lurmoqo 1985, Wade Ottenrvalder, pers. comm. Oct. 1990). The adult C. dcrlr'rr 

198?). Slack in 1984 numbered sone lm Cairrun (l-3 years populauon at this facility was esdmatod !o be 50 (Luxmoorc et. 

old). Corrently no otl|er active management programs involv' al 1985). Hybridiz3tion w\th C . rhonbifer t€c2fne ^ s\otts 

ing crocodilians havo been established 

problem during d€ early operalion of the falm but atempts 

have been made to isolate pure stocks undor fie managernent of 


the MinisFy of Fisherics Industry kom 1974-1980. 

Survey Daa: Ill-baric sr.rvey al2ta 

Due 10 ovelcrowding a[ the hguna de Tesoro facilily' 

Wild Population Slatus: 5_not deploted 

$ousands of crocodilos were rcportedly slaughtered in 1965 

Management hogram: Clegislarion only 

During the cfforts to separate pure stocks in the l9?0s i[ appea$ 

that a large number of crocodiles (pmbably largely hybrids) 

Contact: John Allsteadt, David Norman, Carlos Eduardo Salas wer€ killed. FAO lisheries stalistics for 1976, 19?7, and 1980 

Araya, Farl Junier Wade, Juan R. Bolaflos 

reveal that 531 metn€ tons ofcrocodrles were reported, suggest_ 

ing $e slaughter of thousands of crocodiles. Furihermore' 

following the dccision to corcentatc on C . rhombiler at be 

hgultaalelTesorcfarm,approximately 150adullC.acar!rand 

Cuba 

most of fie rcmaining hybrids were harvested botween 1980 

and 1982 (J. Ottcowalder, pers. €omm., Oct. 190). 

America.n crocodile 

Four addidonal captrve rearing crnLers are currendy in 

Cuban crocodile 

operatron, tirceofwhich have C aatllrsstock Ofthese three' 

common caiman 

one is a closcd-cycle brcedr ng farm and l* o are ranches rearing 

wild-produced harchlings Earnos f989). Oltonwalder (p€rs. 

American crocodile (CrocodJlus a.utus) 

comm., OcL 1990) reports a closed-cycle C acutus fa'rn 

operaung in sabanalamar (cstablished 1986,35 adult fenales, 

Status of Wild Populations: Mardand populations were 

15 adull males), and two ranching opemtions in Jobabito ols 

reported by Varona ( 1987) to bc depleted and dealining. Better 

Tunas Province: esablished 1988; 650 juveniles in Augusl 

populations were said to be found on offshore islands along 

1988). and Birama (Granma Province: proposed to opcn in 

bolh the northem and soul.lrcm coasts. Varona (1980, 1987) 

1989). Irng'term ptans for $c Birama facility include clos€d_ 

reporls that populations on offshore islanals aro being destsoyed 

cycle broeding. Another ranching facility is being planned for 

and only remain in lhe most isolaed aras The species was 

C. dcrrrr in Nucvitas. These rsring cenlers are being developed 

as part of a National Pmglam for the Prolecton anal 

reponed !o bc more common on hla de la Juventud (lsle of 

Pines), espccially on the southwest comer of the island and in 

Rational Utilization ofcrocodiles, and are operatcd through thc 

the lanier Swamp. However, reports by Ramos (1989) indicale 

Empresa Nacional pam la Protc.ci6n de la Flora y Fauna" a 

that C. aclrr.r is commonly found on mainland Cuba in the 

govemmental agency working unaler a cooperative agrccment 

Zapata and Birama swanps (near Manzanillo), but no survey 

with the Ministry of Fisherics IndusEy. The objectives of the 

dala are avarlable. Otl€nwalder (pers. comm.. Oct. 1990) 

proje.t are commercial explo ation (hides and meat), anal 

rcpo.ls that C. dclr/r are locally common in Cuba, with the 

conseNalion of bolh native sp€cies ofcrocodilcs. Plans call for 

largest Fpulation being located in th€ Birama Swamp and 

tlE cslablishmenl of 10 crocodile farmvranches by 1995 (J. 

sunounding areas ncm the mouth of the Caub River. 

Olonwalder, pers. comm.. Oct. 1990). 

Survoys of tlolh species of crocodiles in Cuba are prescndy 

Managemenand Conservation Programs: According to 

being planned (Ottonwalder. pers. comm.) 

Rarnos (1989), crocodile hunting was prohibiad in 1967; 

howevcr, Groombridgo (1982) reporb thal hunting is only 


banned locally (Res. No. 21-79). O&nwalder (pcrs comm ) 

Survey Data: tr-surv€ys 

indicated thal lhc current resolution (Decrcc No. 103 of 1982) 

Planned 

Wild Population Sl2tus: 4-depletedvulnerable 

permanently protects bohr specios of Ctocodtlus $d e\an 

Managemcnt Program: 8.2-ranching, E.l-farming 

Cainnn crocodilus throughout mainland Cuba, thc Isle of 

Pines, and surrounding archiPlagos. 

There are prescntly at leas( five crocodilc farms in Cuba (J. 

Cuban crocodile (Cro cotlllus rhombifer) 

Ottenwalder, pers. comm., OcL 1990). The first and largest 

farm (Criadero dc Cocodrilos dc Laguna del Tesoro) was Status of wild Populations: Re.enl populalions have been 

established in 1959 along the nonhem bounalarios of Laguri: restrictcd to the Zapata Swamp and the l-ader Swamp, the latter 

del Tcsoro, a freshwater lagoon siuated in thc souiheastcnl on the Isla de Pinos. Exlensive hunting of C. rhrtdr'e,'(and C. 

region of lie Zapata Swamp, Matanzas hcvince This facility d.Ilrxr) in the early part of the ccntury is reported to have 

was created as pan of the newly declared Zapata Swamp resulled in the killing of over m,000 crocodilcs over a period of 

Nauonal Park, and many sFcimcnsofC .acutu's aAdC .rhontbifer l0 ycars (Cosculluela 1918, ciled in Varona 1966). Rccent 

werD collecled from the swamp to pmvide farm slock. The r€ports suggcs! that the Lanier Swamp population may have 

facility has been run by l,he Ministry of Fisherics Industry sincc been extirpaled (Ramos 1989) and $ar the inEoduclion of 

l9?5, within the Departmen! of ExPrimenlnl Bre€ding since Cainan crccodilus played a significant role Juvenilc C. 

I qRo. The LaBUna de I Tesoro farrn is al so an imporl2 nl louri'l onbifer have repo(cdly been found in the stomachs of 

60

Cainan in i\e La er Swamp, bul lhis indicatcs that some 

&eeAing C. rhombifer rr,nst still remain (J. Otlenwalder, pcn. 

comm., Oct. 1990). The numtet ot C. thontbi,f?r remaining in 

lhe Zapah Swamp is unkno*n, but Ramos (1989) repons lhal 

"large numbers" are found. Plans for a survey of wild crocodile 

populauons are pres€ndy bcing devetop€d (Ottenwalder, pers. 

comm.) 

Managemen atrd Conservation Programs: Lega:I proteclion 

is as descdbed above for C. acuru. As with C. ac xr, a la4e 

number of $e wild stock in the Zapata Swamp was collected in 

1959 to form a captive bre€ding colony al l,aguna del Tesoro. 

Hybridization witi C. dcrlrr $realened de loss of the species, 

and ftom 1974 [o 1980 a pure stc,i,k of C. rhonhifer vas 

segregared. Another clos€dayclc breeding operation was 

cshblished in 1986 on thc Isle of Pines (Cayo PoFcro). Br€€d_ 

ing stock in August 1988 numbered 35 fcmales and 15 males. 

OffsprinS produced by this breeding opcralion are lo be used for 

commercial purposes and also for future rcinEoduction programs 

in the lanicr Swamp (J. Osenwalder, pers. comm., Oct. 

1990). Another taJlx, tot C. rho bi.fer is curcndy being 

planned in the Zapatr Swamp near the La Habana-Matanzat 

province border. Both rhcse latler farms are being opcraled by 

rhe Empresa Nacional para la Prolecci6n de la Flora y Fauna 

(s€e C. dclrrr account above). An additional facility for C. 

rhotflbifer wasrcWneAly planned at Tasajera, near Habana, but 

apparendy was ncvcr finished (J. Ottenwaldcr, pcrs. comm., 

Oct 1990). 

Tolal adult populalon at the Laguna del Tesoro facility is 

approrimately 10,000, wirh I ,500 breeding adullr. This total 

includes some C. dcrrur and hybrids that have managed !o 

remain in with ihe C. rrrnlif€f stek. Sex rauo among adults 

is approximately 1: 1.5 (males: females), and the annual production 

of hatchlings is t€twccn 5,000 and ?,000(J. O$enwaldcr, 

pers. comm., OcL 1990). The totat number of C. rhonhder 

removcd from l}|e wild and placed on farms has been estimated 

al36,000 (Luxmmre et al. 1985). 

The only commercially operative farm at present is llle one 

al Laguna del Tesoro. Ottcnwalder (pers. comm., OcL l9m) 

was rold by farm personnel rhat skins are notbcing exported, but 

are sold locally !o Cuban a4isan companies ($l/cm) for thc 

elaboration of leather goods (purs€s, wallets, bclls, shoes, 

suilcascs, cigar boxes and key rings). Mcat is sold locally at 

$2-45lkg !o dle InsrihE ofTourism (INTUR) for salc at INTLIR 

run res6urants. L4thcr goods made from crocodile skins arc 

also sold by NTUR along wilh other crocodile blproducts 

(tooth necklaccs, stuffed heads, claw key rings). Juvenile 

crocodiles that die in fams are also stuffed and markeled by 

INTUR (J. Ottenwalder, pcrs. comm., Oct 1990). 

Capdve brocding of C. rlrrn y'€r has also uftcn place in lhe 

Zoo in Havana, in the United States a! |he Bronx Zoo and the 

National Zoo, and in zoos in Slockholm (Sweden), Wroclaw 

(Poland). and Ho-chi Minh City in vieham (J. Orcnwalder, 

pers. comm., Oct. 1990, Honegger and Hun! 1990). 


Survey Data: ll-surveys planned 

Wild Population Stalus: 3-s€verely depleted/endangered 

Management Prcgnm: E.2-ranching, E.3-farming 

Common caiman (Coiman crocodilus) 

Stalus of Wild Populations: An introduced populadon of 

Cairan crccodilustJctune established on the Isle ofPines (Isla 

de Juventud) in 1959. The founderpopulatiofl consisted ofnine 

individuals, presumably C. c.rrscrr, that werc in captivity al 

the "El Dique" Fluvial Re-population Center (Varona 1976) 

Allhough no systematic censuses appe:tt to have boen conducted, 

the 1988 population size was estimated lo be 1,000- 

3,000 (J. Ottenwalder, pcrs. comm., Oct. 1990). Some reports 

indimte that the feral carman have played a significant role in 

llre decline (and possible exrirpador) of the C. rhonlbifer 

population (Ranos 1989). 

Mstragemenl atrd Cons€rvation Programs: An attempt to 

eradicale Cdrlrun from the l$ier Swamp is b€ing planned by 

tho Ministry of Fisheries Industry. LarSer animals would be 

utilized for their skin and meat and juvcniles stuffed for salc !o 

burists (J. Ottenwalder, pers. comm., Oc| 1990). 


Survcy Dal.a: Il-surveys planned 

Wild Population Status: 1 unknown 

Management hogran: B-nonc 

Contact: Roteno Ramos Targarona. Jos6 Alberlo Ottenwalder 


Dominican Republic 

American crocodif e (Crocodllus acutus) 

Status of Wild Populations: Surveys done by Ot@nwalaler 

and Inchaustegui (pcrs. comm, Ottenwalder 1988) and 

Thorbjamarson ( 1986) found only one small coastal population 

in the fuo Massacre along the northwestem border wilh Hatli. 

The largest remaining C. acrtrr population on the island of 

Hispaniola, and one of thc lrrgest anywhere for this species, is 

loca&d in Lago EMiquillo, a large h)?eNaline lake. Nesdng 

sludies by Ottenwaldcr and Inchausleguindicarc &at 100- 150 

nests are lard annMlly in the lake, and btal adult population size 

is 385'525 (Thorbjamarson 1986). lrw hatchling survivorship 

due !o the lake's high salinity is a problcm. 

Managem€nt end Cons€rvation Programs: Crocodiles have 

b€en legally pror€cied in lhe Dominican Republic sincc 1978 

ory 85 and Decretos de Veda, J. Ottenwalder, pers. comm.), 

allhough litde enforccmcnl trl

Ecuador 

Amedcan docodilo 

Common caiman 

Black caiman 

Dwarf caimai and Smooth-Iionled caiman 

black walcr systems in the Amazon ofEcuador. Thc popularion 

of caiman in the Cuyabeno lake system was estimared to bc 

more lhan 2.000, with good populations also roported from 

Limoncocha and Zancudococha lagmns. Cairrut ue synpanic 

wilh Melatusuchus in all areas (Asanza, pe$. comm.). 

American crocodile (Crcco.btlus acutus) 

Status of Wild Populations: The Amc.ican crocodile was ar 

widl Cainan c. .hiapasius 

one time vcly 

kepr in ponds 

abundant 

in 

along lhe coast of F.uador (King 

Cuyas and 

et al. Esmeraldas Provinces 

1982). 

1987. 

A su-.vey tot C. acutus W Parrates ct al. (1980), 

conducted in lare 19?8, showed rhat small remnant popularions 


remained in the Estero Penafiel, rhe Rio Churute and thc Rio 

Survey Dats: trI-basic survey data 

Guyas. Moro recendy (1987), Asanza (pers. comn.) counted 

Wild Population Srarus; 4-dcpleted/wlnerable 

approximately m crocodiles in the rivers and channels ncar San 

Lorenzo and in the Miguel,Cayapas river (Esmoraldas province). 

In the Esmeraldas and Aguas Verdes, Asanza reporrcd 

ManagementProgram: Clegislatioo only 

seeing 40 individuals. In lhe Manglares-Churulc Reserve and 

Eslelo Peflafiel 60 well-dispersed individuals 0uveniles and Black caiman (M?ta nosuchus niger) 

adulls) wele counted. Anorlcr 30 individuah were counled in Statusof Wild Populations: 

1987 at Taun, Meden (King 

on land l9?3) 

owned srared thar 

by the Ecuadorian Air Force. 

Ecuador was the only place 

During 

where Melanosuchtls 

lhe 1982-1983 El 

w6 toronUte 

Niflo, approximarely 20 crocodiles verge of oxtinction. Snall populations 

werc found near Yaguachi (Guyas 

are known ro 

Province) (Asan?a, pers. 

oxist in 

several parts of the Ecuadorian Anazon (?lo*ifl 

comm.). 

et al. 1983), 

Comrnon caiman (Caiman crocodilus) 

Manag€ment and Cons€rvation Programsi Cainun ue 

complcEly protocted by law in Ecuador (Groombridge 1982). 

Asanza (pers. comm.) reponed soeing five 'troming fams" 

mosdy in isolated oxbow lakes such as Limoncocha and 

Manag€ment and Conservation Programs: 

Zancudococha (Asanza, pc.s. 

Hunting for 

comm.; Jahoda 1990). Miyara (in 

crocodiles is banned locally (Groombridge 

Groombridge 

1982), 

1982) repons 

and rhe 

thar the spccies may be rclarively 

commercial cxport of wildlife is prohibircd (Fuller 

common in the lower Rio 

e! al. 1985)_ 

Aguarico and the Rio yasuni-Rio 

In 1985-1986$cE uado.ian Ministry of Agriculrure 

Lagartococbarea near 

assigned 

thc Peruvian bordcr, The Zancudococha 

tive million sucres (about 

populatron 

U.S. 950,m0) for 

appcais 

a conservation 

to be a hcalthy one with an esrimatcd 

progmm for 

population 

C. acxr4r in the Guyas river system, bur this projcct 

size of slighlly over lm (Jahoda, in li{l. April 5, 

failed (E. Asanza, pers. comm.). 

l9m); howevcr, based on two yea$' census data Asanza (pcrs. 

comm.) estimaaed lotal populaiion size ro be 260, wirh a mean 


densiiy of 23.0,&m. Asanza also rcports populations of 

Survey DaLa: Ill,basic suvey data 

Meldrrs!.ilrj in $e oligotrophic lake systcm in rhe Cuyabcno 

Wild Population Staaus: 4,depleted,/vutnerable 

region. In recent years an illegal tlade in smatl (40- 120 cm lolal 

ManagementProg1am: 

length) 

Clegislation only 

liye Melanosuchll\ has emerged. Alliough rhoir finat 

destination is urLknown, thesc animals arc being illega y exported 

over the Cnlonbian and Peruvian borders (Asanz^,pers. 

comm.). 

Status ofWild Populations: The lwo recognizcd subspeciesManagement 

and Conservation Programs: Theblack cainan 

of Cainun crccodilus in F.uador arc C. .. rtudpa,'lrr on rhe was not prore.rcd by the wildlife resolurion of 1970, bur is 

Pacific coa\l and C. .. ctocodilus in fie Amazon dmirnge. ircluded in fte tohl ban on expo( of commercial wildlife 

Populalions of C. .. .tuapdrlllr were considered by Mcdem ("lo&in ct al. 1983). Efforrs ro have rhe Zancudococha lako 

(1973) to be on the verge ofextincrion. Asanza G)ers. comm.) protect€d as a wildlife res€rvc have been unsuccessful !o date. 

reported caiman to be found throughout the coastal rcgion in The population in Limoncocha is well protected owing to thar 

low numbels. During a 1987 survey of 20 km along rhe sile being a res€arch station, 

Esmeraldas river 40 caiman were countcd, and ne€r euinindd Effons are undcrway !o havc the Zancudococha lagoon 

(Esmeraldas river) 30 individuals were coun!,.d along 10 km of included in the national park syslcm, and a biological station 

nver. AsanT also reponed sceing six individuals near uc rown similar !o rhe one on Limoncocha esrablished (Asanza, pers. 

ofVinces in 1987. 

Numb€rs of C. c. crr.odillr were not reported !o b€ scvcrely 

deplead ir the early 1970s (Medem 1973). Jahoda (1990) Country Rating 

rcported lhal alfiough Ca,ndn are hunred for food, rhoy rcmain Survey Data: Ill-baric snrvcy data 

widespread throughoui tie Amazon region. Asdnza (plrn. Wild Population Status: 4-dcplered/wlncrable 

con.m.l rcWlls Cainmn are common throughout lhe white and ManagementProgram: Clegislation only 

62

Dwafi cAiman ( P aleo suchus palpebrosus) 

and Smooth-fronted caim n (Poleosuchus 

tigonatus) 

Sfatus ofwitd Populatiotrs: Few survey dala aro available for 

these species in Ecuador. Medem (1983) menlions that P. 

IriSonar8 is common throughout th€ Napo and Pastaza river 

systems, but that P. palperlorr.lJ is rarely oncouniercd. Thc 

r.fity of P. palpeboslLr was not att ibuted io overhunting but 

mayresul!fromnatuallimi6of itsdistribution(Medem 1983). 

Asanza (pers. comm,) reports thal P. trigor4fr.aj is commonly 

found in bl,ack water .ivers and clear *ater creeks up to 800 m 

elevation. He also farnd P . palpebos&r in the Cuyabeno 

region, in Yasuni National Park, snd in the cenral and southem 

Amazon ofEcuador. Both species are consumed by indtgenous 

Management and Conservatiotr Programs: l€gal slalus 

unlnown, but protected under the total ban on commercial 

hunting (Klemm and Navid 1989). 



wild Population Slatus: 5-not depletod 

Management Progarn: Clcgislalion only 

Contact: Dr. Eduardo Asanza. Dr. John C. Jahoda 


Common caiman 

El Salvador 

of C. ac4!.6, but the revorso was rep,orted to be tsue in El 

Satvador @owell 19?l). 

Management and Conseyvation Programs: Carman are not 

legally protecLd. El Salvador s€rves as a transshippirg C'laundering") 

nation of illegal caiman hides liom Cenml and South 

America (F.rJr'. Kjng, pers. comm.). 

F.om 190 !o 19?1,250 American alligalots (AlliSator 

/rusrt$ippier$it were shipped ftom Louisiana to El Salvador 

in an attempt to establish a commercial farm (Joanen and 

Ensminger l9?8). The fa.m was localed on tho coastal plain 

near lhe mouth of the Limpa River approximalely 65 km 

south€as! of Zacatecoluca. Nesttng was known lo occur in 

1972 (l nesr), 1976 ( 12 nesrs), and 1977 (1? DesE). Repoiedly, 

the farn ended opemlions around 1978-1980 and all fto animals 

were killed. Howovor, the possibility exis6 that somo may 

have es{aped and eslablishei an introduced population (F. w. 

King, pen. comm.). 


Survey Data: I-no sufley planned 


Maragoment Program: B-none 

Contact: No contacts cutendy available. 

French Guiana 

Common caiman 

Black caiman 

Dwarf caiman and Smoo$-fronted caiman 

Common caiman (Caiman crocotlilus) 

American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) 

Status of Wild Poputaaions: Medem (1983) commen6 on lhe 

species' presence in Frellch Guiana, bu! presents no data on 

Staaus of Wild Poputations: Vinually no information is 

status. Medem (cited in Grmmbridge 1982) reported fiar $e 

available on lhe st tus ofcrocodilians ill El Salvador. Powell 

sp€cies was nol in serious danger of extinction in 19?3. Beh.a 

(1971) reponed that C. dc,rrur was ttccoming scarce due to 

(1989) also mcntions lhe plesence of Cdtl/u|l in thc country, 

hundng, and that $e bcsr remaining populations were in Late 

and indicat€s lhat it appefis to be restricted to tho coastal rcgion, 

Guija and l-ate Jocotal. 

where habilat loss may become a significant throat (Bchra, pers. 

comm.). 

Manag€ment and Cons€rvation Programs: El Salvador 

cunenLly lack( any law regatding wrldlife pro(ecdon or management 

(Fuller et al. 1985). 

Management and Conscrvation Programs: Groombridge 

( 1982) and Klemm and Navid (1989) indic.ate thal there arc no 

laws prote.ting this species in French Guiana, bul Behra (in litt 


July 13, 1990) repofts thar Cairan ctucodilus ls inclruded in 


Article 3 of De.ree No. 77 -1295 of l9'l'7 . This article appar_ 

wild Populadon Sfatus: 3'severely depleted,/endangcred 

ently prevents commerce and utilizalion of $e specics wilhi[ 

Managemcnl Prognm: B-none 

French Guiana, bul p€rmi6 commercial export to Fiance 

French Guiana is a Depanment ofFrance, so there is no customs 

conuol for shipments belween tlletwo counlries, 

Common caiman (Caiman crocodilus) 

Status of wild Populations: Very lildc informalion is availablo 

for ihis spccies in El Salvador Populations were report€d Survey Data: I-no sufley planned 


!o bc very depleted in the early 1970s. Throughout Centml Wild Populatior Staius: 5-not depleted 

Americapopulationsof Cdtn,wereinbetiershaPthanthose Managemcnl Prograrn: B-none 

63

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