The world's smallest crocodile is being hunted for Nigeria's bushmeat trade

The African dwarf crocodile, the world's smallest crocodile species, is increasingly showing up in Nigerian bushmeat markets despite growing conservation concerns. The reptiles, which grow to roughly 2 meters long, live in dense swamps and flooded forests across West and Central Africa, but their small size makes them easy to catch and transport. "Its small size and slow metabolism allow it to be captured and transported live over long distances," said conservation biologist Israel Ogorode.

The species has been listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for 30 years without a formal reassessment, even as overharvesting and habitat destruction continue. A recent study of three markets in the Niger Delta documented 158 crocodiles sold between October 2021 and April 2022, about 80% of them mature adults or juveniles under 60 centimeters long; juveniles sold for the equivalent of $7 to $10.

All the vendors surveyed were women, reflecting a regional division of labor in which men typically hunt the animals and women handle the trade. Wildlife ecologist Daniel Jacob identified three interconnected threats driving the decline: direct exploitation, habitat degradation, and weak enforcement. Researchers are calling for coordinated national monitoring, alternative livelihoods for vendors, and community education about the ecological consequences of continued harvesting.

Based on reporting by Amir Sadiq for Mongabay. Read the original: https://news.mongabay.com/2026/09/worlds-smallest-crocodile-in-high-demand-for-bushmeat-trade-in-nigeria/