Odisha gears up to mark 50 years of crocodile conservation

Time of India

17-05-2025

Kendrapada: The state forest department will mark 50 years of its crocodile conservation project with a week-long celebration starting June 17, on the occasion of
.
Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) Prem Sankar Jha said the event will include seminars, workshops, photo exhibitions and competitions to showcase Odisha's achievements in crocodile conservation since 1975.
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Launched in collaboration with UNDP/FAO and the Union govt, the project has been a pioneering initiative. Odisha is the only Indian state to host all three crocodile species — gharial, mugger and saltwater crocodile.
One of the most notable successes has been at
, where saltwater crocodile population has risen from just 95 in 1975 to over 1,800 in 2025. Dr Sudhakar Kar, a noted crocodile expert who helped start the programme with Australian herpetologist HR Bustard, said, "The conservation of crocodiles is not a passing fad, but a mission."
The programme initially focused on collecting eggs during the monsoon and raising hatchlings in protected facilities at Dangmal. However, the success has brought new challenges. "We're now concerned about
in Bhitarkanika," Dr Kar said.
Barricades have been set up at river ghats in Bhitarkanika and locals are regularly warned about entering water bodies. Forest officials have now scaled back egg collection and release programmes as saltwater crocodile population has reached saturation point, focusing instead on research and management of human-wildlife conflict.