Celebrating 50 Years of Crocodile Conservation: Odisha's Remarkable Journey

A Milestone in Wildlife Conservation

Bhubaneswar: The State Wildlife Headquarters, in partnership with the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change department, hosted a national seminar titled ‘Fifty Years of Crocodile Conservation: Learnings and Way Ahead’ on Wednesday. The event was inaugurated by Professor Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi, a former vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University and a Padma Shri awardee, who reflected on Odisha’s significant contributions to crocodile conservation in India since the Crocodile Conservation Project began on April 1, 1975. Hejmadi noted that within just two months of the project's launch, Odisha successfully hatched gharials and saltwater crocodiles at Tikarpada and Dangamal, stressing the importance of ongoing research, including behavioral and genetic studies, to secure the species' future.

Suresh Pant, PCCF and HoFF, emphasized Odisha's conservation achievements, particularly the remarkable increase in the saltwater crocodile population in Bhitarkanika, which grew from 96 to 1,880 over the last fifty years. He also mentioned the resurgence of crocodiles in the Satkosia Gorge, with over 200 freshwater crocodiles recorded this year. However, Pant cautioned about emerging threats such as habitat loss, dam construction, sand mining, and human-crocodile conflicts, stating that the department is taking steps like victim compensation and establishing safe bathing areas to address these issues. Artatran Mishra, deputy director general of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, commended Odisha for being the only state in India that conserves all three crocodile species: Saltwater (Baula) at Bhitarkanika, Mugger at Ramatirth and Similipal, and Gharial at Tikarpada and Satkosia. He also highlighted the state's achievement in producing the first PhD in crocodile research in the country, showcasing Odisha's leadership in this field. Former PCCF Saroj Kumar Patnaik suggested conducting a new survey to identify additional habitats for gharials in the state.

During his welcome address, PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha described the golden jubilee as one of India's most successful wildlife conservation narratives. Chief Conservator of Forests and Nandankanan Zoological Park director Manoj V Nair concluded the seminar with a vote of thanks. The event included four technical sessions focusing on topics such as ‘Saltwater crocodile conservation: Problems and challenges’, ‘Gharial conservation’, ‘Ex-situ conservation of crocodilians in Odisha’, and ‘Conservation of muggers: State perspectives and the way ahead’.