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Dams threaten Siamese crocs
Written by Sovan Nguon
The Phnom Penh Post. Monday, 11 August 2008
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2008081121121/National-news/Dams-threaten-Siamese-crocs.html
Rare reptiles face shrinking habitat in mountains of Pursat
THE construction of hydro-electric dams in the Cardamom Mountains in
central Cambodia will damage the habitat of an endangered species of
Siamese crocodiles, conservationists have warned.
The reptiles are also called mountain crocodiles because they live in
the rugged altitudes of Koh Kong and Pursat provinces, with a few in
the northeast, said Nhek Ratanapich, national coordinator of Flora
and Fauna International's Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme.
"The Cardamom Mountains are the largest breeding habitat for
endangered Siamese crocodiles," Nhek Ratanapich said. "Their numbers
are small, so it is hard to gather them for breeding."
But three new hydro-electric projects in Pursat province have been
approved by the government since May of this year.
And Siamese crocodiles cannot survive in areas flooded by dams, said
Seng Bunra, country director of Conservation International.
The China Datang Corporation and its partners, CHD Cambodia Hydropower
Development and Cambodia Power Grid, unveiled plans in May to invest US
$313.36 million to build the 120MW Atay River dam, which is due for
completion in 2012. Two others were approved in mid-June, including
the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation's $540 million project
to build the 246MW Tatay River dam, due for completion in 2013, and
the 338MW Russey Chrum Krom project, to be completed in 2015 by the
Michelle Corporation at a cost of $495.7 million. The approval of two
more dams is pending.
"This species is almost extinct and is now found only in Cambodia,
Indonesia, and parts of India and Africa," said Seng Bunra.
"A new natural habitat should be prepared to evacuate Siamese
crocodiles because such crocodiles prefer to live in lakes or valleys
in the mountains at least 500 metres above sea level."
He estimated that there was a population of 260-280 of the crocodiles
currently living in the Cardamom Mountains and warned that flooding
their habitat would reduce breeding opportunities.
A female crocodile can lay 30-40 eggs, while less than 20 percent
escape being eaten by other animals.
Nhek Ratanapich said that environmental impact studies may have
mitigated some of the harm caused to the crocodiles by the hydro-power
projects.
But he also pointed out that the reptiles are endangered throughout
Southeast Asia.
"Cambodia is one of the last habitats for this species," he said.
"Some foreign tourists are also interested in seeing them - they are
an eco-tourism attraction." |
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