Saltwater crocodiles of Bhitarkanika show a steady increase in their population

Noted herpetologist and crocodile researcher Dr Sudhakar Kar, who led the enumeration exercise, said that the crocodile population is sustainable in Bhitarkanika.
Saltwater crocodile: Wikimedia commons image. All rights acknowledged
Saltwater crocodile: Wikimedia commons image. All rights acknowledged

BHUBANESWAR/KENDRAPARA: The saltwater crocodiles of Bhitarkanika have shown a steady increase in their population with the annual enumeration on Wednesday putting the head-count at 1,682.

The authorities of Bhitarkanika Wildife Sanctuary, home to the largest population of estuarine crocodiles, had carried out the enumeration from January 2 to 8 in the creeks, rivers and water bodies located across the four ranges which include Kanika, Rajnagar, Mahakalpada and Gahirmatha.

In Kanika range alone, a whopping 1,303 crocodiles were sighted by the census teams. It accounts for 77 percent of the total population which lives mostly between Khola to Pathshala. Last year, the crocodile population in the national park was pegged at 1,671.

Noted herpetologist and crocodile researcher Dr Sudhakar Kar, who led the enumeration exercise, said that the crocodile population is sustainable in Bhitarkanika. “If you look at the recruitment, it would give you an idea about the population’s sustainability. This year, we found over 70 nests which is consistent with the adult population,” he added.

A classification of the crocodiles showed that at least 302 of them were adults, which means above eight feet in length. Of them, Kar said, at least 97 were definitely males. Females do not grow beyond 12 feet in length. Another 172 were sub-adults (six to eight feet) while 266 were juveniles which measure between three feet to six feet in length.

Similarly, number of hatchlings and yearlings were 608 and 334 respectively. Hatchlings are below two feet while yearlings are measured between two to three feet. This population is an indicator of good breeding and survival.

“We also sighted around 10 albino crocodiles, four crocodiles which are more than 16 feet in length and seven more than 18 feet. There are three giant crocodiles in Bhitarkanika which are more than 20 feet in length,” said Kar who led the 27-member enumeration team for the census work. Kalia, touted to be the longest crocodile recorded, was also sighted among the three giants.

The saltwater crocodiles of Bhitarkanika are one of the successful projects which started in 1975 as a collaboration between Ministry of Forest and Environment and UNDP. Initially, eggs were hatched and hatchlings were being reared and released but with their population reaching a sustainable point, hatchlings are not released.

Kar said, this is the only saltwater crocodile breeding project where population monitoring is carried out on an annual basis. For the last seven years, the crocodile population has been above the 1600 mark. Mugger and Gharial breeding programmes had also been taken up 1975 but salt water crocodile conservation programme is the most successful one, he said.

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