In 2013 the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) estimated there were less than 250 Siamese crocodiles in the wild in Lao PDR, due to over-hunting and habitat loss. Thanks to support from MMG LXML Sepon, the future of the critically-endangered Siamese crocodile is looking much brighter.

In November 2015, 28 young crocodiles were released in Champhon District, Savanakhet Province to mark the end of the Community Based Crocodile Recovery and Livelihood Project.

The project was run by WCS in association with Champhon District, with funding from Sepon and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

Community involvement was critical to the success of the project, with local people involved in managing watercourses, fish ponds and wildlife/biodiversity. Raising community awareness of both the importance of wildlife to socio-economic development and the potential tourism value of the crocodiles was a key element of the project.

Concerned local groups including the Crocodile Conservation Group and Than Soum villagers were trained in crocodile management.

The project began in 2013, with the incubation and hatching of crocodile eggs at the Lao Ban Keun Zoo. A total of 64 crocodiles were released over the life of the project.

Pictured: Siamese crocodiles released in Champhon district, Savanakhet province to mark the end of the Community Based Crocodile Recovery and Livelihood Project.