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What Do We Do

The IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) is a worldwide network of biologists, wildlife managers, government officials, independent researchers, non-government (NGO) representatives, farmers, traders, tanners, fashion leaders, and private companies actively involved in the conservation of the world's 23 living species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gharials in the wild.

Coming Events

Please click on read more below to find a full list of up-coming events by Crocodile Specialist Group. From time to time we will also add other interesting events happening around the world.

Latest News and Information

27th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group

The the 27th CSG Working Meeting will be held in Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia, on 16-19 April 2024, with workshops (eg drone, veterinary) to be held on 14 April, and the meeting of the CSG Steering Committee on 15 April. It is anticipated that the meeting website will be launched soon, at which time details will be available on venue, registration, accommodation, program, etc.

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Wildlife Conservation Drones & Technology Summit - 2023

First of its kind summit focusing on drones and technologies for wildlife conservation and management, providing training and educational opportunities via workshops, vendor exhibitions, and more. 9-12 October 2023, Reveille Peak Ranch, Burnet, Texas, USA. Click on the flyer below for further information:


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Winter CrocFest 2022

A summary report on Winter CrocFest 2022 is now available. Held in December 2022, the event raised $US50,000 for research on the Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) in the northeast portion of its range (Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname). Download the report here.

Croc School CrocFest will be held on 12 May 2023, at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park.

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New Publication - "Die Hornbackhaut - The Hornback Skin"

This new publication, “Die Hornbackhaut - The Hornback Skin” (2023), by Karlheinz Fuchs, in both German and English, focuses on the hornback skin - the dorsal surface, from behind the head to the tail tip, including the post-occipitals and the nuchal rosette, which are often featured on products, but which are particularly hard to identify. This latest publication builds on previous works such as “Die Krokodilhaut” (1974), later published as “The Crocodile Skin” (2006) in English, with assistance from the CSG.

The treatment of most species uses diagrams in which the general arrangement of post-occipitals and the nuchal rosette is well described, and is accompanied by a distribution map, which gives border control personnel an extra tier of information with which to validate or question a particular export or import. This is another important contribution to our ability to ensure trade in crocodilian skins and products is legal and verifiable. “Die Hornbackhaut - The Hornback Skin” is strongly recommended for people involved in these issues.

The book can be purchased (28€ + postage) directly from Karlheinz Fuchs (E-mail: ingridfuchsdauborn@t-online.de).

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Traceability in Crocodylian Conservation and Management

As reported in a recent CSG Newsletter [40(3)], the CSG Executive Committee endorsed, and has now released, "Traceability in Crocodylian Conservation and Management". The report addresses  traceability, an issue that has been debated at recent CITES forums. The CSG Executive Committee thus agreed to review traceability, as it applies to crocodylians at this point in time, and to provide CSG members and others interested in the issue, with a snapshot of key points. Dr. Dan Natusch prepared an overview of traceability in reptiles in general, which comprises Chapter 3 of the report.

Download "Traceability in Crocodylian Conservation and Management"


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"History of Crocodile Management in the Northern Territory of Australia:
A Conservation Success Story"

The history of crocodile management in the Northern Territory of Australia (NT) has been pulled together by Professor Grahame Webb into an easy-to-read booklet, which will be available very soon. The NT provides an interesting case study of how sustainable use has been successfully used to conserve a large predator, in this case the Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). But the road to this success has not always been smooth, and Professor Webb discusses the past and current threats to this management program. A summary has been extracted from this booklet, and can be downloaded here.

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Latest IACTS (International Alligator and Crocodile Trade Study) report, 2018-2020 (John Caldwell; UNEP-WCMC). Download

5th Charotar Crocodile Count - Jan 2018. Download
Charotar Crocodile Count - May 2018. Download
6th Charotar Crocodile Count - Jan 2019. Download
7th Charotar Crocodile Count - Jan 2020. Download
8th Charotar Crocodile Count - Jan 2021. Download
9th Charotar Crocodile Count - Jan 2022. Download

Drone Working Group webpage, including links to Youtube videos of virtual workshops.