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World Crocodile Day: Appraising 50 years of Crocodile Conservation in India
India began its Crocodile Conservation programme in 1975, and this year marks 50 years of this initiative, one that has been more successful than most.
India is home to three main kinds of crocodile species – the gharial, the salt water crocodile or salties, and the muggers. These species face increasing threats from habitat loss, poachers, pollution, riparian agriculture, artificial embankments, construction of barrages and dams, and illegal sand-mining.
On this World Crocodile Day, which falls on June 17, we look back at 50 years of crocodile conservation, the status of these endangered species as of today, and what is in store with the recent launch of the New Gharial Project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Guest: Professor B.C. Choudhury, eminent wildlife scientist who has worked on crocodile conservation since 1975.
Host: G Sampath
Edited by Jude Francis Weston
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