Endangered Siamese crocodile sighted in Thailand

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Snap for the snapshot: the Siamese crocodile in the Thai border area with Myanmar

Photo: HANDOUT / AFP

In Thailand, rare photos of the endangered Siamese crocodile have been made.

They were created when a specimen of the three-meter reptile came within range of an automatic camera in the Kaeng Krachan National Park on the border with Myanmar.

It was the second time in ten years that a Siamese crocodile had been spotted in the park.

The photos of this crocodile were taken in December when it was lying on a bank in the sun.

The park released the pictures on Saturday.

Siamese crocodiles are freshwater crocodiles.

They were once widespread in Southeast Asia.

Today the species is listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and is on their Red List.

The management of the Kaeng Krachan National Park assumes that only around 20 specimens live in the wild.

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In another picture, the rare crocodile moves out of the water

Photo: HANDOUT / AFP

The Siamese crocodile is a predator - but at the same time it is a victim of humans and their damage to nature, said Manoon Prewsoongnern from the park administration.

Poachers also hunt down the Siamese crocodile to make belts, shoes and luxury handbags from its skin.

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ire / afp