Celebrating 50 Years of Crocodile Conservation: Odisha's Pivotal Role

As India commemorates the 50th anniversary of its National Crocodile Conservation Project, the Orissa Environmental Society is calling for official recognition of Odisha's vital contributions. The project, initiated in 1975 with support from international organizations, aimed to protect the country's native crocodile species, which were on the brink of extinction. Odisha's unique position as the only state housing all three species highlights its importance in this conservation effort. Read on to learn more about this significant milestone and the ongoing efforts to safeguard these remarkable reptiles.
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Celebrating 50 Years of Crocodile Conservation: Odisha's Pivotal Role

A Historic Milestone in Crocodile Conservation


Bhubaneswar: As India celebrates the 50th anniversary of its National Crocodile Conservation Project, the Orissa Environmental Society (OES) is advocating for the state government to officially recognize this significant achievement.


In a correspondence directed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, OES working president Jaya Krushna Panigrahi emphasized the need for state-level acknowledgment of Odisha’s remarkable efforts in crocodile conservation.


During the early 1970s, the three native crocodile species in India—gharial, saltwater crocodile, and mugger—were facing severe threats of extinction.


With assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and UNDP, India initiated its National Crocodile Conservation Project in 1975, designating Odisha and Uttar Pradesh as the initial states for this initiative. Notably, Odisha was the only state where all three species thrived in their natural habitats.


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