The 15 Endangered Crocodile in the World

The 15 Endangered Crocodile in the World

When we talk about endangered species, it's often the charismatic big hitters tigers, elephants and rhinos who get stage center. But hiding in the world's rivers, swamps and mangroves is a class of ancient reptiles quietly disappearing, endangered crocodiles. It's an ironic tragedy after 200 million years of surviving the extinction of dinosaurs and countless other things, they are being driven to extinction by us humans. As we will see, learning more about what they are crisis about is the first step to saving them. This guide looks at the 15 world's most endangered crocodilian species, their proneness to death and the valiant efforts of conservationists to pull them back from the brink. Their diverse populations are being decimated by illegal hunting and poaching, due to the disease, over exploitation of their stocks for their unique skins and in traditional medicine.

Crocodylus Mindorensis

With perhaps fewer than 100 mature animals left in the wild the Philippine crocodile is one of the rarest reptiles in the world. endangered native to the Philippines but threatened with extinction from habitat destruction and persecution by humans It has no other recourse but to undertake conservation actions.

Cocrico Nationale

Previously widespread throughout Colombia and Venezuela in the Orinoco River basin, this large long nosed crocodile was hunted to near extinction for its skin. It is protected but nevertheless has a rather low population status as as much as half the population has been killed for their skins and only 1500 adult individuals are left in patches.

Cuban Crocodile

Valuable for both its colorful persona and for its land based skills, this original species is only indigenous to two small swamps in Cuba. A salient feature of this ecosystem is its narrow distribution and potential hybridization with the American crocodile, elements that not only represent serious threats to the local population in Cuba, but also make the conservation of this species fundamental.

Crocodylus Siamensis

In its native Southeast Asia, however, the Siamese crocodile is a phantom. There are now captive populations growing for the aquarium, but truly wild populations of this fish are quite small and patchy, in Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Gavialis Gangeticus

The gharial is easily identified by its long, narrow snout which is specialized for eating fish native to the river systems of the Indian sub continent, but their numbers have plummeted due to damming, snaring in fish nets and disappearance of natural beachy terrains for nest boring via sand mining operations. There are now probably less than 250 adults left.

Mecistops Cataphractus

Heavy poaching and habitat loss in a region where there is already extremely limited habitat, have caused this forest crocodylian of Central and West Africa to be upgraded to Critically Endangered (from Endangered) status. They are a mysterious species and we aren't completely sure how many of them actually remain in the wild, but the overall trend is pretty much on the decline.

Alligator Sinensis

This Chinese alligator is smaller and relative of the american alligator also the most endangered of all the crocodilians. It is considered functionally extinct from the wild because most of its wetland habitat in the basin has been turned over to agriculture in the Yangtze River. Because of captive breeding and release programmes, North American fur seals now have a real chance of hanging on.

Crocodylus Palustris

Compared with others on this list, the mugger (or marsh crocodile) is found over much larger areas, but faces enormous pressure due to habitat loss and man croc clashes across India, Sri Lanka and even beyond. They are at risk of extinction if we do nothing to save them..

Crocodylus Acutus

Found in South Florida, the Caribbean and central and northern South America, this species has rebounded in some areas but remains vulnerable to coastal development that destroys the crocodiles' habitat.

Black Caiman

This top predator of Amazon's is measures four meters long. The animal was hunted to extinction in hopes of selling the black skins. Still in the early stages of restoration due to ongoing anti poaching and crocodile conservation enforcement efforts, this population is predation neutral, and is thus a candidate for listing.

Caiman Pravius

They are spread wide in areas of eastern and central South America. They are currently classified as Least Concern. Thus the species has been listed as threatened by destruction of habitat and the illegal pet trade, and seems to be a dramatic example of how quickly change can occur.

Paleosuchus Trigonatus

This relatively small ground living caiman of the Amazon Rainforest is less likely to be taken by hunters because of its bony skin. However, population status will need to be monitored more closely as deforestation occurs rapidly.

Crocodylus Johnsoni

The "freshie" is a globally stable species, but is locally vulnerable in Australia to damaging predatory cane toads (which are deadly when consumed), and habitat fragmentation.

Caiman Crocodilus

The spectacled crocodilian is also the most widely distributed and most frequently encountered of the crocodilians, which is good news for conservation, and is apparently absent outside the Americas. However, even in parts of its range it remains at serious risk of poaching.

Crocodylus Niloticus

The Nile crocodile is one of the icons of the African river ecosystem and has made a roaring comeback. However, it is one taxa for which human wildlife conflict has become a major management concern and the call for sustainable population management is being heard.

What Can We Do To Help Save Crocodiles

These ancient creatures are also being preserved from all over the world. The key point here is also for you to understand that if you purchase any form of crocodile skin based products for yourself, you ensure that you are purchasing ethically obtained wild crocodile skin provided it has the Heritage CITES certification. Interdiversity Reward Food and accommodation providers that take a responsible attitude towards animal welfare (particularly in terms of wildlife conservation and responsible tourism) can receive financial rewards for providing incentives to local communities to conserve species. But the history of the world's endangered crocodiles is unwritten. By applying crocodile conservation all over the world, there hopefully are chances for them to survive for millions of years from now. Their survival is a credit to the fresh water ecosystems of our planet and ultimately to our own.