Siamese Crocodile survey at KKNP (November 2010 - June 2011)

Siamese Crocodile Conservation in Kaeng Krachan National Park



Karen children nearby Petchaburi River (left) and Mr. Yao and his wife with a crocodile in his boat (right)

Rationale

Petchaburi River is one of the five principle river in Thailand. It flows from Thai-Myanmar border in Kaeng Krachan National Park then out to the Gulf of Thailand. It length is more than 200 km. Karen people ?lived with the liver in the center of Kaeng Krachan National Park for ages told a clue Karen people here lives with crocodile for over a decade. An evidence of Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) presence found in a photo of Mr.Yao Charoernsuk, a crocodile veterinarian of Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm when he came to catch a crocodile in Ponluek-Bangkloy area back o his farm (image above). The photo was taken since 1976 and Kaeng Krachan National Park has received it from a Privy Councilor, Sawat Wattanayakorn.

Objectives

- To study about distribution and population size of wild crocodile in Kaeng Krachan National Park to estimate its status for appropriate management of its habitat area.

- To enhance identification skill of crocodiles? presence, sign, and nest to the national park research & academic team and other interested people.

Progress

In 2001 while WCS Thailand Program was during in a training of camera trap setting for tiger survey and monitoring in Kaeng Krachan National Park, a camera accidentally trapped a photo of Siamese Crocodile (below image). Compromising the concept of WCS?s Living Landscape Species in Kaeng Krachan National Park, it became the beginning of Siamese Crocodile survey and study project in the area. The first report of Siamese Crocodile nest found in 2008 emphasizes the significant of this study.

A photo of a Siamese Crocodile caught by WCS Thailand's camera trap in March 2001
at Marakaenoh lower stream

A nest of Siamese Crocodile found in 2010

Kaeng Krachan National Park has monitored and recorded the information of nest and laid of their eggs with crocodile experts from WCS, Mr.John Thorbjarnarson and Mr. Steve G. Platt before began collecting historical data by interviewing the local people (during August - September 2010). Then the survey started along the major river (November 2010 - June 2011) and in the reservoir area (during May - October 2010). The result reveals its primary distribution and density information (see table and image below) that we can estimate that there are at least 2 Siamese Crocodile inhabit in the area.

Table: Siamese Crocodile survey result during November 2010 - June 2011

Survey routePatrol Day Patrol Distance(km.)Sign detect(per 10 km.)
other signdung 
A. Lam Mae Pradone    
November 2010648.4not foundnot found
B. Petchaburi River    
November 2010418.8not found 2 (1.06)
December 2010635.11 (0.28) 2 (0.57)
January 2011 5 48.5not found2 (0.41)
March 2011 5 31.61 (0.32)0
April 2011  4 37.11 (0.27)
1 (0.27)
May 2011
 537.8not found
not found
June 2011 2 32.9not foundnot found
Total31241.83 (0.12)
7 (0.29)

Map shows the information from interview of Siamese Crocodile presence (left) and
Signs of Siamese Crocodile found during water survey (right)





Collecting data at crocodile's nest




Boat survey and signs record




Boat survey in reservoir at night





Evidence of crocodile' s presence




Training about farm crocodile

Articles from the field

Record from Petchaburi stream and the last hope of Siamese Crocodile Part 1

Record from Petchaburi stream and the last hope of Siamese Crocodile Part 2


Articles from the field