1998年12月(yue)經(jing)廣東省人民政(zheng)府批準為省級自然保護區;
2002年(nian)經廣東省人民政府批準(zhun)為副處級事業單(dan)位;
2007年4月經(jing)廣東省人民政府批準更名為(wei)廣東曲江羅坑鱷蜥省級(ji)自然(ran)保(bao)護區;
2013年晉升為國家級自然保護區。
廣東(dong)羅坑(keng)鱷蜥國家級自然保護區位(wei)于廣東(dong)省中北部,北緯24°36′—24°39′,東(dong)經113°13′—113°22′。
保護區內(nei)地(di)貌復(fu)雜,四周(zhou)群山環抱,中部為較平坦(tan)的盆地(di),最(zui)(zui)高峰船底頂海拔1587m,最(zui)(zui)低海拔約200m。
氣(qi)(qi)(qi)候屬(shu)亞熱(re)帶季風(feng)氣(qi)(qi)(qi)候,年(nian)平(ping)(ping)均氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫2011℃,一(yi)月(yue)平(ping)(ping)均氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫915℃,極端(duan)最低氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫-516℃,7月(yue)平(ping)(ping)均氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫2819℃,極端(duan)最高氣(qi)(qi)(qi)溫3915℃,年(nian)平(ping)(ping)均降雨(yu)量1640mm。
廣東羅坑鱷蜥(xi)國家級自然保護區(qu)總面積(ji)18813.6公(gong)(gong)頃(qing),其中:核心(xin)區(qu)6904.6公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)、緩(huan)沖區(qu)4063.4公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)、實(shi)驗區(qu)7845.6公(gong)(gong)頃(qing)。
廣東羅(luo)坑鱷蜥(xi)(xi)國家(jia)級(ji)自(zi)然保護(hu)區內(nei)森林(lin)植(zhi)被(bei)茂(mao)密的環境孕(yun)育了(le)豐(feng)富的動(dong)植(zhi)物資(zi)源。保護(hu)區內(nei)有(you)野生(sheng)脊椎(zhui)動(dong)物301種(zhong),其(qi)中國家(jia)一級(ji)重(zhong)(zhong)點(dian)保護(hu)動(dong)物鱷蜥(xi)(xi)等6種(zhong),二級(ji)重(zhong)(zhong)點(dian)保護(hu)動(dong)物33種(zhong)。有(you)39種(zhong)國家(jia)重(zhong)(zhong)點(dian)保護(hu)動(dong)物,如(ru)瑤(yao)山鱷蜥(xi)(xi)、黃腹(fu)角雉(zhi)、豹(bao)、云豹(bao)、林(lin)麝、蟒蛇、穿山甲、短(duan)尾猴、斑林(lin)貍、金貓、水鹿、鬣(lie)羚、普通鵟(kuang)、三線(xian)閉殼(ke)龜(gui)和(he)虎(hu)紋蛙等。
廣(guang)東羅坑鱷蜥國家(jia)級(ji)自(zi)然保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)區國家(jia)重點保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)17種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中國家(jia)一(yi)級(ji)重點保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)野生植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)2種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)、國家(jia)二級(ji)重點保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)野生植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)15種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。野生維(wei)管植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)205科(ke)698屬(shu)1464種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中藥用植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有568種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),果(guo)類植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有88種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),觀賞植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有192種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),纖維(wei)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)141種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),淀粉植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有38種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),芳香植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)27種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),油脂(zhi)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有102種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),飼料植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有44種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),鞣類植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有65種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),用材樹種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)共(gong)有218種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。在這些(xie)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)中,國家(jia)重點保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)植(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有四(si)川(chuan)蘇(su)鐵(tie)、伯(bo)樂樹、福建柏、觀光木、廣(guang)東松等17種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。
廣東羅坑鱷蜥國家級自(zi)然保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)主(zhu)要(yao)保(bao)護對象是亞熱帶常綠闊葉林、珍稀動植(zhi)物及其(qi)棲息地。是以保(bao)護鱷蜥及其(qi)生態環境(jing)的(de)綜合型自(zi)然保(bao)護區(qu)(qu)。鱷蜥是爬(pa)行動物中比較(jiao)(jiao)古老的(de)一(yi)類,體(ti)長(chang)15—30厘(li)米(mi),尾(wei)長(chang)23厘(li)米(mi)左右,體(ti)重50—100克(ke),身體(ti)可以分為(wei)頭部(bu)(bu)(bu)、頸部(bu)(bu)(bu)、軀(qu)干部(bu)(bu)(bu)、四肢、尾(wei)5個部(bu)(bu)(bu)分。頭部(bu)(bu)(bu)較(jiao)(jiao)高,頭部(bu)(bu)(bu)和體(ti)形與蜥蜴相似,頸部(bu)(bu)(bu)以下的(de)部(bu)(bu)(bu)分,特別是側扁的(de)尾(wei)巴(ba),既(ji)有棱嵴(ji)狀的(de)鱗片,又有許多(duo)黑色的(de)寬(kuan)橫紋(wen),則又很像揚子(zi)鱷,所以被稱為(wei)鱷蜥。
廣東羅坑鱷蜥國家級自然保(bao)護(hu)區主(zhu)要(yao)保(bao)護(hu)對(dui)象的典型性、稀有性、瀕危性、代表性較強,在保(bao)護(hu)生(sheng)物多樣性和生(sheng)物資源、維持生(sheng)態系統良(liang)性循環等方面具有重要(yao)作用(yong)。
中國一(yi)級重點保(bao)護(hu)動物鱷蜥(xi)是(shi)有(you)“活(huo)化石(shi)”之稱的(de)世界珍稀物種,僅(jin)分(fen)布在中國廣西(xi)、廣東和越(yue)南安(an)圖(tu)自然保(bao)護(hu)區等極少數區域(yu)中。盡管它與恐龍“同壽”,已逾1.9億年(nian)“高齡”,但(dan)它被人(ren)類(lei)發現僅(jin)僅(jin)有(you)80多年(nian)歷史。
1928年,有生物(wu)(wu)考察隊(dui)首次在廣西發(fa)(fa)現(xian)鱷(e)(e)蜥這(zhe)一物(wu)(wu)種(zhong)。2002年,科(ke)研人員在韶關羅坑發(fa)(fa)現(xian)百姓們所稱的“落水(shui)狗(gou)”便是極其珍稀的鱷(e)(e)蜥,這(zhe)是廣東首次發(fa)(fa)現(xian)。2004年,國家林業局(ju)進行了(le)一次全國性的普(pu)查,發(fa)(fa)現(xian)當時(shi)中(zhong)國野生鱷(e)(e)蜥僅有1000條左右,而曲江羅坑自然保護區內就生存著(zhu)約240條野生鱷(e)(e)蜥。
羅坑保(bao)護(hu)區的鱷(e)蜥野生種(zhong)(zhong)群已經壯大(da)至約500~600條,約占全國(guo)(guo)野生鱷(e)蜥種(zhong)(zhong)群數量(liang)的50%,這是中國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)內已知大(da)的鱷(e)蜥野生種(zhong)(zhong)群,該(gai)保(bao)護(hu)區也已成(cheng)為(wei)中國(guo)(guo)大(da)的鱷(e)蜥野生種(zhong)(zhong)群棲息(xi)地。
廣東羅坑(keng)鱷(e)(e)(e)蜥(xi)國家級自然保護(hu)區主要對野生(sheng)鱷(e)(e)(e)蜥(xi)種群的(de)分布、數量、生(sheng)態(tai)習(xi)性等方面進行了廣泛研究,已(yi)連續多年(nian)人(ren)工繁育鱷(e)(e)(e)蜥(xi)獲得成(cheng)功,并(bing)于2010年(nian)成(cheng)功繁育出子(zi)二代鱷(e)(e)(e)蜥(xi)。保護(hu)區已(yi)成(cheng)為中(zhong)國大的(de)鱷(e)(e)(e)蜥(xi)人(ren)工飼養繁育基地。
在(zai)人工(gong)繁(fan)育鱷(e)蜥(xi)取(qu)得成功(gong)后(hou),2009年(nian)(nian)、2012年(nian)(nian)保(bao)護區分別成功(gong)進行(xing)了鱷(e)蜥(xi)野外放(fang)歸(gui)活動(dong)。其(qi)中,2012年(nian)(nian)一次放(fang)歸(gui)鱷(e)蜥(xi)達(da)60條(tiao)。從鱷(e)蜥(xi)放(fang)歸(gui)監(jian)測情況(kuang)看,放(fang)歸(gui)的(de)鱷(e)蜥(xi)適(shi)應性較(jiao)好,在(zai)棲(qi)息(xi)地(di)上能正常生存棲(qi)息(xi),可以說鱷(e)蜥(xi)放(fang)歸(gui)已(yi)獲得初(chu)步成功(gong)。保(bao)護區仍(reng)在(zai)對放(fang)歸(gui)的(de)鱷(e)蜥(xi)繼(ji)續(xu)(xu)跟蹤監(jian)測,為人工(gong)鱷(e)蜥(xi)放(fang)歸(gui)積累經驗,從而(er)擴大鱷(e)蜥(xi)野外種群數量,確保(bao)這種珍稀(xi)“活化石”種群在(zai)原生地(di)的(de)持續(xu)(xu)增長增大。