The Hindu : Rare white crocodiles found in Orissa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 11, 2004

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Rare white crocodiles found in Orissa

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 10. The Forest officials in Bhitarankanika National Park in Orissa have found 15 rare white crocodiles or albino during the annual crocodile census. They were found in water bodies of the park and nearby areas.

The park and its rivers and creeks are home to about 1,500 salt-water crocodiles, but the rare white crocodiles are not found anywhere else in the world. Mangrove vegetation, availability of sufficient aquatic foods, pollution-free water bodies and less human interference are said to be the main reasons for the growth of crocodile, including the albino, population in the region.

The crocodile population was on the verge of extinction here in 1970 due to rampant poaching which forced the State Government to tie up with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme to start the crocodile rearing project at Dangamala within the park.

During 1976, only 95 crocodiles were found in the area. The project involved collection of eggs from the nests as soon as these were laid, incubation and hatching of these eggs and releasing the young ones into nature in protected area.

As per the census carried out last year, there were 1,308 crocodiles, including 192 adults, 82 sub-adults, 180 juveniles, 370 yearlings and 484 hatchlings. The forest officials had for the first time found an albino baby crocodile in its breeding centre in 1975 but it has been unable to reproduce since it had rejected its mates. The officials now intend to release it in to the river.

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