No central or west and central African countries have implemented sustainable management programs as yet. Country by country surveys of crocodile status and distribution are a prerequisite for developing conservation and management programs. Population surveys and monitoring, training and program support are needed to foster these programs. Policy and legislation to provide the management framework. The development of good management programs should include a significant research program.
Sustainable management offers tremendous opportunities for collecting ecological data.
Information on population dynamics is valuable from an empirical standpoint, and also for the improvement of the management program. A considerable amount of ecological research has been done in east Africa, but long-term comparative studies need to be established in different parts of the continent. Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus , Ume, Zimbabwe. Photo by P. Ross.