Source : The Star, Malaysia, 27 Jun '10
By : The Star
  

The positive development was due to the respective governments implementing management plans to save the once severely depleted wild population of crocodiles.

Participants at a three-day international workshop on Human-Crocodile Conflict (HCC) unanimously congratulated the three governments for their efforts.

The workshop, which was organised by Sabah Wildlife Department with assistance from Crocodile Specialist Group, ended its meeting here yesterday.

The experts said the increased population would allow for the “down-listing” of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in north Borneo from endangered to “not necessarily threatened” in the Convention of International Trade of Species (Cites) Appendix II.

HCC is likely to meet again in May and June next year in either Sarawak or Brunei to study progress made on crocodile management.

Among the resolutions passed was for the governments to sustain the increased population and ensure that people play a crucial role in its conservation.

Another was the formulation of a new management plan that integrates a monitoring system of significant habitats and the compilation of a database on the relationship between the crocodile population and human activity.

Other resolutions include ensuring that funding from governments is available for long-term monitoring and management obligations while encouraging increased involvement by the private sector.