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CROCODOPOLIS world of crocodilians TM SCIENCE · CULTURE · INDUSTRY · NEWS · COMMUNICATION · CONSERVATION
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FEATURES profiles
February 8, 2007
Ralf Sommerlad,
Der Krokodilfachmann (continued)
ENDLESS JOB.
The
Tomistoma does not have an easy stream ahead.
“The
problem is that we have different political situations in different
places and not only different political situations, we have different
economical situations for the local people, and we have all these
illegal activities like logging, paid by large companies all over the
world…Most of the people know that these animals are no danger…they
don’t eat people, but these people have a lot of problems and they
need to survive, so what they need is fish. We have a lot of Tomistoma
drown in fishing nets, as well as illegal logging as well as heavy boat
traffic along rivers. These are serious threats for Tomistoma.”
Employing
the concept of “sustainable use,” for the Tomistoma is all but
impossible, Sommerlad explained. The animal holds no recognized economic
value to the people of the region. For instance, in order to farm the
animal for body products it must be bred relatively quickly and in great
numbers. For the Tomistoma, it takes 20 to 25 years for it to reach
sexual maturity, longer than for most members of the crocodylia. And
even if it were to mature quickly, its hide would lack the smooth,
pliable quality demanded by the leather trade.
Shwedick,
who serves as TTF’s USA Regional Chairman, elaborates, “There is a
huge demand for their habitat. The Tomistoma is tied to a unique
habitat, which is the peat swamp forest, and the remaining peat swamp
forests, which the Tomistoma depend on for habitat and food and a place
to nest are being systematically drained in many parts of their range.
The swamps are being converted for agricultural purposes, primarily for
growing palm oil. The surrounding tropical forests are being illegally
harvested primarily for tropical hardwood.”
Shwedick
added, "Ralf has traveled extensively throughout Thailand and will
be involved in the process of evaluating the potential for a
re-introduction program for Tomistoma in
that country. Though it has been reported that Tomistoma
occurred in southern Thailand in the past, this has not been well
documented".
"Both
Ralf and I were a part of the pre- and post- planning for the 2004 and
2005 TTF surveys in Kalimantan
(Indonesian Borneo),” said Shwedick, “but were unable to participate
in the field work due to schedule conflicts. We are currently
planning to travel to Sarawak (Malaysian
Borneo) for fieldwork that will be scheduled for 2007."
The
TTF’s main objectives, according to Shwedick, are to: 1) Create
greater general awareness; 2) Create knowledge and interest in the
region's communities; and 3) Protect habitat.
“Ensuring
there are sufficient tracts of protected areas to maintain
representative populations remains an obvious, practical, long-term
contribution to crocodilian survival,” said Webb. “Tomistoma
represents one of the great challenges in crocodilian conservation. It
appears that a small remnant population in Thailand did go extinct and
there are only a few survivors left in Peninsular Malaysia ... so it can
happen if no one is keeping an eye on what is happening in the field -
which is why the TTF is fulfilling a valuable role for the CSG.”
“TTF
is an endless job, I fear,” said Sommerlad.
Raising
capital is always a prime concern for such a task force, and though
plans for a fundraising event in Florida in 2005 were thwarted by
hurricanes, the group has revived the event for later this month, when
members, colleagues, friends and interested persons from several
countries will converge on Miami on Feb. 24 for the “A Night for the
Crocs” benefit dinner. The event is open to the public for an
admission fee, and will feature herpetologist Brady Barr (Super Croc)
of the National Geographic Society as a keynote speaker. An auction will
also be held to augment the funds generated from admissions. (For more
information on the event or to purchase tickets, click
here.)
Sommerlad
expresses concern for other crocodilians, such as the Chinese Alligator,
the Siamese and Philippine Crocodiles, and the Indian Gharial, all of
which are objects of increasing attention by the CSG.
Webb
remarked on those species in danger of extinction: “In the wild,
Alligator
sinensis [Chinese Alligator] is the most endangered full species.
With Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis [Apaporiensis River Caiman],
we just do not know the status – it may be extinct or very close to
it. I suspect mindorensis
[Philippine Crocodile] is much worse
off than siamensis
[Siamese Crocodile], although
siamensis
itself has very real and serious problems.
The
Indian Gharial is in crisis as well. A very distracted Indian government
is uneager to commit the considerable investment required for the
complexities of the animal’s conservation. The reptile faces a newer
assault, too - mobsters, illegally raking the habitat of sand and other
valuable resources, armed and ready to kill any who attempt to stop
them .
The endangered Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus). (Photo: Tirtha M. Maskey/Crocodile Specialist Group.)
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Sommerlad, inspecting a captive Malayan Gharial nest at Utairatch Crocoidle farm in Thailand. (Photo: Courtesy of R. Sommerlad.)
Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis). (Photo: F. Wayne King/Crocodile Specialist Group.)
The Apaporis River Caiman (Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis) of South America. This subspecies of the Common Caiman may be extinct. (Photo: F. Wayne King/Crocodile Specialist Group.)
Siamese Crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis). (Photo: Grahame Webb/Crocodile Specialist Group.) |
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