State marks 50 years of crocodile conservation initiative

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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.

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