63 crocodiles emerge through 'rear and release' programme

Kendrapara (Orissa), Aug 19 (PTI) Wildlife lovers are
jubilant as babies of estuarine crocodiles have emerged out of
the artificially hatched egg-shells at the crocodile research
farm in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in India's eastern
state Orissa.

As part of the 'rear and release' programme of these
endangered species, eggs collected from the wild were hatched
artificially, said Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) division
officials. Of the 79 eggs hatched this year, there has been
emergence of 63 babies from equal number of nests, they said.

The young crocodiles released into a captive pond would
be reared for more than a couple of years before being freed
into the wild. The rear and release of these hatched reptiles
has been going on since 1975, funded by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP).

The conservation project undertaken in Bhitarkanika
tested success while a similar UNDP-funded 'gharial'
conservation project launched simultaneously in Tikarpada
Sanctuary was a failure.

From hardly a hundred, the crocodile population has
swelled considerably over the years. Now, 1572 crocodiles
inhabit along Bhitarkanika's water bodies, according to the
latest census of these animals. The estuarine crocodiles are
not found in any other river system in Orissa.

Besides the mangrove forest along with its fauna, these
reptiles are a major tourist attraction of Bhitarkanika
sanctuary. PTI CORR
DDC