U.S. experts help save crocodiles in Laos

NEW YORK, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. conservationists say they've helped the Laotian government in hatching a clutch of Siamese crocodiles, a species threatened by hunting and habitat loss.

The Wildlife Conservation Society aided the successful hatching of 20 of the crocodiles from eggs taken from the wild and incubated at the Laos Zoo, a WCS release said Tuesday.

The hatching was part of a program to save the Siamese crocodile and the wetlands and associated biodiversity of Laos' Savannakhet Province.

"It's a small but important step in helping to conserve a valuable part of the natural heritage of Lao PDR for the benefit of future generations." Chris Hallam, WCS conservation planning advisor, said. "We're thrilled at the prospect of augmenting the wild population of Siamese crocodiles with a new batch of healthy juveniles."

The hatchlings will be released in their second year, when they are large and robust enough to avoid mortality in the wild, officials said.