Croc, Croc! Charotar Wetlands Witness Jaw-Dropping Rise
Vadodara: Decades ago, this Central Gujarat region earned global fame as the cradle of the 'White Revolution', turning milk-deficient India into a net producer. Now, the NRI-rich villages surrounding India's 'Milk City', Anand, are quietly nurturing a different success story—one that has nothing to do with milk.
In a remarkable turnaround, these lush green hamlets have become a beacon of crocodile conservation, with the reptile population rising from just 130 to nearly 550 in 10 years. Just as the country is celebrating 50 years of Project Crocodile, a pioneering initiative that pulled its crocodile species back from the edge of extinction, wetlands in the Charotar region, comprising Anand and Kheda districts, have emerged as the safest haven for these reptiles.
The summer 2025 mugger crocodile population count, the latest crocodile count carried out by Vallabh Vidyanagar-based Voluntary Nature Conservancy (VNC), revealed a total of 549 muggers in 42 water bodies across 25 villages of Anand and Kheda.
"This has reaffirmed Charotar's status as one of India's unique crocodile landscapes outside the protected areas," said Anirudh Vasava, Executive Director of VNC and member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Crocodile Specialist Group.
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"Fifty years ago, crocodiles were confined to a few shrinking habitats. Today, they live in canals, ponds, and rivers that run through our villages and fields," he said.
Crocodile expert Dr Raju Vyas, the India Regional Vice-Chair and member of the IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, explained: "Charotar stands out as a unique example in crocodile conservation which is nowhere found in the world. It is facilitated by local culture and people's tolerance level."
"Since the lakes in these villages are sprawling, the crocodiles get suitable nesting areas, refuge places to hide, and undisturbed habitats which in turn facilitates their healthy population," said Vasava.
Also, these lakes are given on lease to the fishermen, which not only promotes commercial activity but also ensures an abundant supply of food to the crocodiles. "More importantly, the crocodiles here do not face any direct threat of poaching, hunting or harassment.
People here understand that crocodiles have the right to live here," he said.
Local Guardians Safeguard Crocodiles!
Vadodara: For the last three years, a unique initiative has ensured that the crocodiles in Charotar remain unharmed. Through the crocodile guardian initiative, villagers, students, youth, and volunteers are designated as crocodile guardians. Around 25 in eight villages actively contribute to the protection of mugger crocodiles and promote human-crocodile coexistence.
"This initiative fosters a sense of ownership and pride in crocodile conservation among local communities.
They safeguard nesting sites, assist in the rescue of stranded crocodiles, and report important sightings," said Anirudh Vasava, VNC's Executive Director.
Children Croc Fests
Vadodara: From Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Florida to Australia, croc fests are an annual feature in many countries. But most of them act as a platform for researchers, scientists, and reptile lovers to raise funds to further research on the reptiles.
In 2019, a crocodile fest made its debut even in India. But it was with a marked difference – it was India's first 'children croc fest' or the 'bal mugger melo' - held at Malataj village, 20 km from Anand, to make children, the generation next, learn to live in harmony with the otherwise scary crocodiles.
Children of primary schools learn to live with the reptiles through fun games like 'crocs & ladders', 'mugger, mugger, tara inda lav', croc walk, and 'mugger na inda' (crocodile eggs). They spend a day playing specially designed games and competitions revolving around the slogan of 'Maru Gam, Mara Magar' (My village, my crocodiles). And with that comes the learning. In the game 'Mugger Mugger, tara inda laav,' a child has to cross a stretch without harming the female crocodile, played by some other kid, busy protecting her eggs.
If the child crosses successfully, he or she is declared the winner, but loses if bitten!
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