CROCODILES

Compilation of Documents from the 4th Working Meeting

of the Crocodile Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Madras, India, 6- 10 February 1978

(compiled January 2012)

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Foreword

No Proceedings of the 4th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group (Madras, India, 6-10 February 1978) were produced, as most of the original documents submitted to IUCN were unable to be located. In late 2011 efforts were made to locate any documentation that may have been held by some participants of that meeting, and this publication represents a compilation of the documents that were available. We thank F. Wayne King, Ruth Elsey, John Lever and Rom Whitaker, who provided documents, photographs and other information. Tom Dacey, CSG Executive Officer (January 2012)

Literature citations should read as follows: For papers: [Authors]. (1978). [Article title]. In Crocodiles. Compilation of Documents from the 4th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group. Crocodile Specialist Group: Darwin. For the volume: Crocodile Specialist Group (1978). Crocodiles. Compilation of Documents from the 4th Working Meeting of the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group. Crocodile Specialist Group: Darwin. Published (electronic) by the IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group © IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group Reproduction of this publication for educational and other non-commercial purposes is authorized from the copyright holder, provided the source is cited and the copyright holder receives copy of the reproduced material. Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior permission of the copyright holder. Cover photographs (taken at meeting) courtesy of John Lever.

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Contents 1. Draft agenda 2. Group photographs 3. Press Release 4. Letter to B.P. Srivastata (Inspector General of Forestry, India) 5. Letter to Mr. Tago (Minister of Environment and Conservation, Papua New Guinea) 6. Letter to Earl Baysinger (Executive Officer, IUCN Species Survival Commission) 7. Paper: Ted Joanen and Allan Ensminger - The El Salvador Alligator Program. 8. Paper: Ted Joanen and Larry McNease -Status of Louisiana alligator farm program. 9. Paper: Ted Joanen and Larry McNease - Population and classification status of the

American alligator. 10. Paper: Ted Joanen and Larry McNease - Time of nesting for the American alligator.

NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETYMEMORANDUM 26 July 1977

TO: IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group Members

FROM: W. King, Chairman

SUBJECT: Draft Agenda for 4th Working Meeting

Enclosed is the first draft agenda for the 4thWorking Meeting to be held in India in February 1977.I would appreciate hearing from each of you concerningany topics we might have overlooked, or ones you feelshould be modified or dropped. Please also let meknow if you can speak on the subject I have tentativelyindicated for you.

When your responses are in hand, I will send outthe final agenda.

4th~'lORKING lYIEETINGOF THE IUCN/SSC CROCODILE SPECIALIST GROUPGirwa Gharial Sanctuary, India6-12 February 1977

~ , 7 - '? - q - 10" - i7-

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

D R AFT AGENDA

1) Status Reports~orth America -- T. Joanen (alligator) & H. Campbell (crocodile)

\/west Indies and Central America -- W. King

i/south America --~;lt'~4~

~Africa -- A. C.

F. Medem (northern & central) & F. Achaval(southern)

Pooley

L/Asia -- J. C. Daniel & R. Whitaker~Australia -- H. Messel

v/Papua New Guinea -- J. Lever

Review of Appendices of Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora -- Croc. Sp. Gp.

2) Survey Techniques

~i ver population surveys -- H. !·1essel

VAsia -- R. Whitaker~~jp N G' J J. Lever, apua r ew u i.n e I --~ Inventory methois and future needs -- R. Chabreck

Advances in captune and handling techniques._/ . bi 1. I. 1vDrug_h~o 1 lzatilo» -- H. MesseJI~ v~fo£1(;c>RadlO telemetry -- H. Messel

3)

4) Biology of crocodiliansMovements of estuarine crocodiles -- H. MesselFactors influencing American allis-ai-.ornesting T. JoanenGrowth in the American alligator -- R. ChableckGrowth in the estuarine crocodile -- H. Messel

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4) Biology of crocodilians (continued)

Morphometrics of the estuarine crocodile -- H. Messel

Behavior -- A.C. Pooley

Saltglands and sodium loading -- H. Campbell

5) Captive propagation, crocodile banks, and hide farms

Madras Crocodile Bank -- R. Whitaker

India's farms -- J. C. DanielPapua New Guinea J. Lever

Louisiana -- T. Joanen

El Salvador -- T. Joanen

Africa -- A. C. Pooley

Zoos -- R. Honegger

~hinese alligators T. Joane~

Egg collection and incubation -- R. Chabreck6) International hide trade, marketing, and tanning

International marketing survey -- J. Lever

Impact of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species --

R. Honegger & W. King

Review of the trade from the buyers view -- Karlheinz Fuchs*7) Publicity and Public Education H. Campbell & R. Honegger

8) Conservation Action Programme for Crocodiles

Review marine and coastal species progrmmne -- W. King & Croc. Sp. Gp

Production of a freshwater species programme -- Croc. Sp. Gp.Training counterpart staff in crocodile conservation -- R. Chabreck

*Karlheinz Fuchs will attend the meeting as an observer from theinternational leather industry.

From left, Miro Laufa (Papua New Guinea), Karlheinz Fuchs (Germany), John Lever (Australia), Frederico Medem (Colombia), Rom Whitaker (India), F. Wayne King (USA), Federico Achaval (Uruguay), Harry Messel (Australia), Robert Chabreck (USA), Patrick Aia (Papua New Guinea), Ted Joanen (USA), J.C. Daniel (India).

From left, J.C. Daniel (India), Ted Joanen (USA), Zai Whitaker (sitting, background), Harry Messel (Australia), Robert Chabreck (USA), Satish Bhaskar (doorway), John Lever (Australia), Frederico Medem (Colombia), F. Wayne King (USA), Allen Vaughan (India), Federico Achaval (Uruguay), Karlheinz Fuchs (Germany), Patrick Aia or Miro Laufa (Papua New Guinea; foreground). Photograph: Rom Whitaker (India).

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'----~

EW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETYNew York Zoological ParkNew York Aquarium

Bronx ZooBronx, New York 10·160 Center for Field Biology and ConservationTelephone: (212) 220-5100 Osborn Laboratories of Marine Sciences

17 February 1978

B.P. SrivastavaInspector General of ForestryMinistry of AgricultureKrishi BhavanNew Delhi

Dear Inspector General Srivastava:

The Crocodile Specialist Group of the SurvivalService Commission, International Union for theConservation of Nature and Natural Resources, in theirsurvey of the various endangered species of crocodilians,noted with great satisfaction the efforts being made bythe Government of India, in collaboration with the FAO/UNDP,in the conservation of Indian crocodilians.

The Group requested the Chairman to convey their specialappreciation of the progress achieved in the conservationof the gharial and to congratulate the Government and theauthorities concerned on the success achieved in thecaptive hatching and rearing of this species. TheCrocodile Specialist Group received the information on theorganization of the Chambal Gharial Sanctuary and welcomedthis move as another step in the conservation of thisunique species.

The Group also noted the rehabilitation programme inprogress, and being organized at different levels, for theconservation of the other two species of Indian crocodilesand hoped that the momentum would be maintained.

It was noted with concern that there is a possibilityof the Andaman population of the gravely endangeredestuarine crocodile being seriously depleted. It is hopedthat this area would also receive the urgent attention ofthe Government.

.'

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Again, let me congratulate the Government of Indiaon the impressive achievements already obtained in theconservation of Indian crocodiles, and wish you even moresuccess as the programme continues.

71;;;15/~hairmanl IU~Q/SSC CrocodileSpecialist Group

/dbcc: N.D. Jayal

p. ScottE. Baysinger ,-Crocodile Specialist Group

NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETYNew York Zoological ParkNew York Aquarium

• Bronx ZooBronx, New York 10.•60 Center for Field Biolog-y and ConservationTelephone: (212) 220-5100 Osborn Laboratories of Marine Sciences

21 February 1978

Mr. TagoThe Minister of Environment and

ConservationP.O. WaiganiPort MoresbyPAPUA NEW GUINEA

Dear Mr. Tago:

The Crocodile Specialist Group of the Su~vivalService Commission, International Union for theConservation of Nature and Natural Resources, in itsFourth Working Meeting held in Madras, India, from6 to 10 February 1978, was delighted to hear thecontinued progress of the Papua New Guinea crocodileprogramme.

The Group members discussed the joint PNG Government/FAa paper presented at the meeting and support the need fora crocodile population survey for PNG. Your Government'srequest for assistance from the GXQuP has been entered onour list of projects to be carried~out during the next year.

The Group also noted your request for an Ecologist tohead the more technical aspects of your crocodile programme.Shortly, we will submit nominees and other necessarydetails for your Ministry's consideration and possibleselection.

The Crocodile Specialist Group is highly appreciativeof your Government's approach in consulting the Group andkeeping us informed of progress. It is encouraging tonote that PNG has recognized the importance of thisIUCN/SSC Specialist Group as a source of advice andassistance in your efforts to conserve and utilize yourcrocodilian resource.

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We were delighted to have two Papua New Guineae WildlifeOfficers, Patrick Aia and Miro Laufa, at the meeting. Itis our hope that they gained insight into the crocodileconservation problems faced in o~her countries and some ofthe successes these oth~r nations have achieved as thesetopics were discussed at the conference.

We wish you continued success in your conservationprograrrune.

Sin~r ly,.A~~~- ./. 'aynr x i ghairman,IUCN/s C CrocodileSpecialist Gb6up

/dbcc: P. Scott

E. BaysingerCrocodile Specialist Group

EW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETYNew York Zoological ParkNew York Aquarium

Bronx ZooBronx, New York 10-160 Center for Field Biology and ConservationTelephone; (212) 220-5100 Osborn Laboratories of Marine Sciences

21 February 1978

Earl BaysingerSSC, Executive OfficerIUCN1110 Morges

Dear Earl:

Enclosed is the press release the CrocodileSpecialist Group put out to the local press at the 4thWorking Meeting in Madras. Would you please get RobertAllen to put the release on the wire services orwhatever is appropriate.

In the release, reference is made to movingCrocodylus porosus (except for the Papua New Guineapopulations), Crocodylus acutus, and the Argentina andParaguay populations of Caim:ancrocodilus yacare toAppendix I of the CITES. This proposal is based on newsurvey information, which will be sent along to you fortransmittal to the CITES Secretariat as soon as I haveput the supporting material in order and duplicated it.In addition,reference is again made to moving Alligatormississippiensis to Appendix II of the CITES. This isbased on the continued recovery of this species which hasalready led the US/FWS to reclassify the American alligatorfrom Endangered to Threatened in most parts of its rangeand to delist it in others.

The freshwater component of the global strategy forcrocodile conservation was outlined at the meeting, butwill take several weeks to work up in final form.

I hope the SSC meeting in Faro, Portugal, went well.I am only sorry that Fred Medem and I were unable to attendboth sessions.

/dbcc: P. Scott

R. FitterCroc. Sp. Group