A new 315-hectare (778-acre) wetland in Cambodia's Pursat province has been formally declared a genetic conservation area. This designation, made by Cambodia’s environment ministry on 22 July, aims to protect one of the world’s last wild populations of Siamese crocodiles.
The site, located at the northern end of the Cardamom mountains, is believed to house at least 40 Siamese crocodiles. The species remains critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
Conservation International's country director for Cambodia, Sony Oum, described the site as a "genetic bank" for the species. Preserving genetic diversity is seen as vital for the animals' ability to reproduce and resist disease, particularly as habitat destruction, poaching, and cross-breeding have left few genetically intact wild populations.
Indigenous Chorng communities have been instrumental in the conservation effort. Their knowledge led to the official recording of the species in 2000 after it was feared to have disappeared in the 1990s. Community wardens now assist conservation organisations by monitoring rivers, patrolling for illegal fishing and poaching, and identifying nesting sites.
Fauna & Flora International has also been active, establishing a breeding facility in 2011. Since then, the charity has released 246 genetically pure Siamese crocodiles into protected rivers, with 100 of these releases occurring since 2024.