Cameras captured this endangered giant reptile: It’s the first sighting in over a decade
Cameras in a Thai national park snapped a rare shot of the unexpected visitor.
The critically endangered Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) has been spotted by camera traps placed in Thung Salaeng Luang National Park in Thailand, marking the first official sighting of the animal in over a decade.
Local news media and animal lovers, as well as park officials, have all delighted in the news, with one media outlet saying that the sighting of the rare species “has renewed optimism for the species’ survival and highlights the park’s rich biodiversity”.
Somkiat Yodmalee, director of Protected Area Regional Office 11 threw enormous credit at those working to protect the region, saying that “this discovery is a testament to the ongoing efforts of our researchers. They have been meticulously monitoring the crocodile population since October 2024, deploying camera traps and tracking signs of their presence.”
VIDEO: 🇰🇭 Saving Cambodia's Siamese crocodiles
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 18, 2025
Conservationists are helping to bring the crocodiles back from the brink. The species was once close to dying out beyond zoos and crocodile farms, but breeding programmes have helped grow the population to up to 1,000#AFPVertical pic.twitter.com/OYThg0uybF
Sighting ‘a call to action to protect this precious species’
“The continued presence of these crocodiles is a beacon of hope for conservation efforts,” Somkait added. “It demonstrates that Thung Salaeng Luang National Park remains a vital sanctuary for rare and endangered wildlife. We must remain vigilant and ensure that development projects do not jeopardise the survival of these magnificent creatures. The discovery of the Siamese crocodile in Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is a call to action to protect this precious species and its natural habitat.”
Head of the research project, Daengrawee Promrak, explained the curiosities of the animal, saying that “these crocodiles prefer slow-moving or still waters and are generally solitary creatures. They feed primarily on fish and small animals and pose little threat to humans unless provoked.”
While there have been a few unconfirmed sightings of the animal over the years from local residents, the species was last officially recorded there in 2013.
Watch the INCREDIBLE moment some of the world's rarest crocodiles hatch - and listen to their little chirps! 💚 🐊 Two years ago, our team were asked to help with international efforts to save the critically endangered Siamese crocodile from extinction.
— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) October 21, 2024
Guided by our knowledge… pic.twitter.com/3rNU6Y9xL9
Conservation efforts have been on the go for years in the region, with programs proving successful: captive breeding programs and habitat protections have led to animal reintroductions in countries like Cambodia, where over 1,000 purebred crocodiles have been released into the wild since 2012.
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