Latest news with #WorldCrocodileDay
The Star
11 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Crocodiles essential for maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems, says conservationist
KOTA KINABALU: Crocodiles, an often misunderstood species of reptile, play a vital role in maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems and should continue to be protected, said the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC). Crocodile Conservationist Dr Sai Kerisha Kntayya of DGFC said in conjunction with World Crocodile Day on Tuesday (June 17), it was important to understand these reptiles and learn to co-exist with them. 'Although these reptiles are often seen as dangerous predators, it is possible for humans and animals to co-exist,' she said when contacted. She said crocodiles help maintain healthy fish populations by removing the weak and sick while as apex predators, they balance aquatic food webs. To promote co-existence between animals and humans, Sai said we first need to understand that it is normal to see crocodiles in the sea. 'They are strong swimmers and often travel long distances through coastal waters. Not all sightings require capture – we must learn to differentiate between natural behaviour and actual threats,' she said. She said Sabah is home to only one wild crocodile species – the saltwater crocodile (*Crocodylus porosus), which naturally lives in both freshwater and saltwater environments, including rivers, estuaries, and the sea and this species is fully protected under the state law. 'To minimise conflicts, we should always respect their space by avoiding, entering or disturbing known crocodile areas, especially during nesting season (May to August). These are part of their natural range,' said Sai. For communities living near rivers, she advised using designated access points that are safe, designated spots for bathing, fishing, or other water activities. 'Avoid riverbanks during dawn, dusk, or night when crocodiles are most active,' she said. Sai said people can also install safety infrastructure such as barriers (floating jetties, fences, or crocodile exclusion enclosures) in high-risk areas to reduce direct encounters between humans and crocodiles. She said public awareness and education programmes including regular outreach in schools, villages, and public spaces helps people understand crocodile behaviour, risks and safe practices. When carrying out activities, people need to avoid attracting crocodiles by disposing food waste, fish offcuts, and livestock remains properly as these can attract crocodiles closer to human areas, she said. When one notices or sighted a crocodile, they should report these sightings to wildlife authorities so they can assess the situation and take non-lethal action if needed, Sai said. 'It is useful and beneficial to support research and monitoring of these reptiles as well, as tracking and monitoring crocodile movement helps identify high-risk zones and plan safe human activities,' she said. According to DGFC, the saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile - growing up to seven meters long, can travel hundreds of kilometres by sea - some even crossing open ocean, and dubbed true living fossils as they have remained virtually unchanged for over 200 million years. 'On this World Crocodile Day, let us renew our commitment to protecting our wildlife, respecting their space, and learning to live in harmony with these incredible creatures. 'Because when we protect crocodiles, we protect the health of our rivers, our biodiversity, and ultimately, our future,' it added.
New Indian Express
12 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Week-long celebration in Odisha as crocodile conservation turns 50
KENDRAPARA: Come Tuesday, Odisha will commemorate 50 years of its pioneering crocodile conservation projects on World Crocodile Day. In 1975, three conservation projects were launched in the state for as many species - salt-water crocodiles in Bhitarkanika, gharials in Satkosia and muggar in Similipal. These initiatives have gone on to transform reptile conservation in the country. 'The main objective of the crocodile conservation project was to protect their natural habitats and rebuild the population quickly through captive breeding,' said Dr Sudhakar Kar, noted herpetologist and former wildlife researcher of the Forest department. Over five decades, these initiatives have become one of India's most successful wildlife conservation programmes. 'We are happy for the success for which Forest department has decided to celebrate 50th anniversary of Crocodile Conservation Project in the state on June 17 by organising week-long meetings, seminars, workshops, photo exhibitions, quiz and painting competitions,' said principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), wildlife Prem Kumar Jha. Dr Kar began saltwater crocodile breeding and rearing work in Bhitarkanika in 1975 alongside noted Australian herpetologist Dr H R Bustard. He is continuing his pioneering work even 13 years after retirement. Expressing concern over the increasing human-crocodile conflict in Bhitarkanika, he said forest officials have warned riverside villagers not to venture into creeks and rivers and erected barricades at several ghats to prevent attacks. As per the latest census report, Satkosia gorge is home to 16 gharials, 1,826 salt-water crocodiles reside in Bhitarkanika National Park and around 300 muggers live in the rivers of the state.
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
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 Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
State marks 50 years of crocodile conservation initiative
1 2 3 Kendrapada: On World Crocodile Day on Tuesday, Odisha will celebrate 50 years of a pioneering programme that has become a national model for wildlife preservation. The journey began in 1975 with three distinct projects — saltwater crocodiles in Bhitarkanika, gharials in Satkosia and muggers in Similipal. Odisha is the only state to host all three species. "The main objective was to protect their natural habitats and boost their populations through captive breeding," said noted herpetologist Sudhakar Kar, who led the saltwater crocodile breeding programme with Australian expert H R Bustard in Bhitarkanika, India's second-largest mangrove forests. Census data from Jan revealed there are 1,826 saltwater crocodiles in Bhitarkanika, 16 gharials in Satkosia gorge, and around 300 muggers across the state's rivers. "This is one of India's most successful wildlife conservation stories," said Prem Kumar Jha, principal chief conservator of forests. The forest department will celebrate the golden jubilee with a weeklong series of events, including seminars, workshops, photo exhibitions and competitions. The milestone honours the legacy of conservationists like Kar, B C Chaudhury and L A Singh. But success has brought new challenges. "We're now addressing human-crocodile conflict, especially in Bhitarkanika," Kar noted. Measures like barricades and warning systems have been implemented to ensure community safety.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
World Crocodile Day: Odisha's pioneering efforts have made it a leader in crocodile conservation
As India marks 50 years of its Crocodile Conservation Programme in 2025, it is Odisha's pioneering work that laid the foundation for one of the country's most successful species recovery efforts. When the Government of India launched the Crocodile Conservation Project on April 1, 1975, it was Odisha that emerged as the centre of the country's first scientific efforts to save all three native species of crocodilians—the gharial (gavialis gangeticus), the saltwater crocodile (crocodylus porosus), and the mugger (crocodylus palustris)—from the brink of extinction. Odisha Government is all set to celebrate World Crocodile Day on June 17 in a big way as a milestone in its conservation journey. 'Odisha is uniquely positioned by hosting wild populations of all three crocodile species. A small breeding population of saltwater crocodiles had managed to survive in the mangrove swamps of Bhitarkanika, while the southernmost population of gharials persisted in the Mahanadi River. Mugger crocodiles continued to inhabit forested river stretches like those around Ramatirtha,' said Sudhakar Kar, a researcher who has devoted 50 years for crocodile conservation. Alarmed by the findings of a survey conducted in late 1974 by renowned herpetologist H.R. Bustard that crocodile populations were on the brink of extinction, scientific conservation efforts were launched with the assistance of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Incubation, rearing centres 'Incubation and rearing centres were immediately established in Odisha — for gharials at Tikarpada on the Mahanadi River and for saltwater crocodiles at Dangamal in Bhitarkanika. Uttar Pradesh followed with centres at Kukrail (Lucknow) and Katarnia Ghat along the Girwa River. Eggs laid in the wild were collected, incubated in controlled conditions, and hatchlings were reared in specially designed pools until they reached 1.2 metres in length — a size deemed safe from most natural predators,' said B. C. Choudhury, a retired scientist from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. In a historic moment for wildlife conservation in India, the first gharial and saltwater crocodile hatchlings emerged from the Tikarpada and Dangamal centres in June 1975, just two months after the project's launch. 'Odisha's contributions over the next five decades would prove to be groundbreaking. It became the first State to appoint dedicated wildlife biologists for the project. It also established India's first conservation breeding pools for gharials at Nandankanan Zoological Park and Dangamal. In an early example of international collaboration, an adult male gharial was brought from the Frankfurt Zoological Society to help build a viable breeding group in Odisha,' said Mr. Choudhury. 'Bhitarkanika and Satkosia in Odisha were the first areas declared as protected habitats for saltwater crocodiles and gharials, respectively. Both were later upgraded to National Park and Tiger Reserve status. Odisha also became the first State to release captive-reared gharials and saltwater crocodiles back into the wild,' Mr. Kar said, remembering how as a young researcher he would go to collect eggs from crocodile nests by a fishing boat with a lamp in hand. Increase in wild population Odisha is the only State in India to host conservation centres for all three crocodilian species — Tikarpada for gharial, Dangamal for saltwater crocodile, and Ramatirtha for mugger. Odisha also produced India's first PhDs in crocodilian research, further reinforcing its leadership in conservation science. 'Fifty years on, India holds nearly 80% of the global wild gharial population—an estimated 3,000 individuals—with more than 400 nests recorded annually across the National Chambal Sanctuary (spanning three States), Katarnia Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Gandak River, Corbett Tiger Reserve, and Son Gharial Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh,' said Mr. Choudhury. The saltwater crocodile population has recovered to approximately 2,500 individuals in the wild, with Bhitarkanika in Odisha holding the largest share, followed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Sundarbans in West Bengal. The mugger crocodile, once severely depleted in numbers, has now reclaimed most of its historical range, with its numbers in the wild estimated at 8,000 to 10,000. With over 20 zoos, led by the Madras Crocodile Bank, now breeding crocodiles and supporting reintroduction programmes, the need to collect eggs from the wild has largely been eliminated. In March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the initiation of a new conservation project for gharials (fish-eating crocodiles). 'It is possible that this new project will consolidate its status in the Ganges and its tributaries, take the species across its former distribution range up to Brahmaputra and Indus and re establish the species in its former glory in its southern most distribution in Mahanadi in Odisha where conservation efforts have shown much encouraging results,' said Mr. Choudhury, who is involved in gharial conservation in multiple States of India.
