Xe Champhone Wetland and Crocodile Information Center

LOCATION: Ban Tansoum, Savannakhet Province, Laos

CLIENT: WCS LAOS

BUILT TIME: 6 months

COMPLETION: May 2025

The Conservation Context

The Siamese crocodile, once common in the region, is now facing extinction with a wild population of only approximately 200 individuals. Ban Tansoum has been a key partner in a WCS-led breeding program that utilizes thermal drone technology to locate nests in the wild. Eggs are collected, incubated, and raised by villagers in specialized pens for two years before being released back into the Xe Champhone wetland.

Over a two-year period, I served as a consultant for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Laos to develop the Xe Champhone Wetland and Crocodile Information Center. Located in Ban Tansoum village, this facility was designed to support a critical conservation initiative: the recovery of the Siamese crocodile.

Project Overview

The Design & Build

To celebrate the project's success, which sees roughly 50 crocodiles released annually, WCS commissioned a dedicated visitor center. The facility serves a dual purpose: to educate the growing number of eco-tourists and to provide the village with supplementary income.

The Indoor Interpretive Area

The indoor interpretive area, featuring information panels and video displays, serves as a multifunctional space for learning about the wetland, selling locally made products, meeting the community for workshops and communication, and housing the village office. It is the result of the restoration and expansion of the existing Ban Tansoum village office.

An elevated walkway winding over a series of ponds designed to replicate the natural wetland landscape. This space provides a more realistic environment for juvenile crocodiles to mature before their release.

Material selection prioritizes locally sourced non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as bamboo, which has been prepared for long-term durability using traditional methods.

The Outdoor Wetland Experience

During my extensive fieldwork and community engagement in Ban Tansoum, I developed a close relationship with the local community and project leaders. This access allowed me to produce a series of five documentary-style videos focusing on the Siamese crocodile and wetland life. These videos are now a central feature of the visitor experience at the center.

Media Production

The Bolikhamsai Eco-Tourism Facility and Infrastructure in Nam Kading NPA was made possible thanks to the organization of WCS Laos, under the direction of Christof Hanh, Senior Technical Advisor for the Bolikhamsai Landscape (pictured here with me and the patrol team from Keng Bit Village), together with the community of Keng Bit and the construction team under the supervision of Mr. Singpeth. It was a pleasure and a great experience. The tour will feature a return route through an amazing pristine section of forest that ends at the breathtaking Nam Sanam waterfall in Na Hin Village.