Myanmar bans crocodile export

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-16 11:51

YANGON -- Myanmar has banned export of crocodiles to foreign countries to protect them from extinction, the local Voice weekly reported Monday quoting the Ministry of Livestock Breeding and Fisheries.

As Myanmar crocodiles are included in the list of world's extinction species, the export of such wildlife is subject to the permission of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora.

Of a total of 23 species of crocodiles in the world, 4 species - - Ngamoeyeik, Thai crocodiles, Ginga crocodile are found in Myanmar.

Ngamoeyeik crocodiles take sanctuary in Bogalay, Laputta in Ayeyawaddy division and other three in Magway and Taninthayi divisions.

Breeding of crocodiles in Myanmar started in 1978.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is building a wildlife park in a border town in Kachin state, northernmost part of the country, to undertake conservation work with wild animals.

The 405-hectare park lying at Putao between Mularoti and Zayar mountains will keep wildlife and rare animals taking sanctuary in snow-capped region.

There is also a large tiger reserve called Hukuang in the same state established in 2004 on an area of about 22,000 square kilometers.

However, only 150 tigers reportedly remain alive in the reserve.

In the wake of tiger extinction threat, Myanmar wildlife police and forest rangers have also planned to step up combating wildlife trade and crimes in the tiger reserve and special training programs have been introduced jointly by the Myanmar forest ministry and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Besides, elephant conservation is also carried out at the Bago Yoma mountain range in the country's central part where most of the elephants take sanctuary.