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THE STATESMAN (Calcutta, India) 23 May 03 White salt-water crocodiles spotted in Bhitarkanika?
Kendrapara: Wildlife personnel have claimed to have sighted a horde of white salt-water crocodiles in the water-bodies and river systems of Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary in Kendrapara district, according to sources.
Earlier, white estuarine crocodiles were not sighted in this sanctuary area, which was officially carved out in 1975 principally for carrying out conservation work of these endangered reptiles.
The lone white crocodile in Bhitarkanika was the famous Gori, a 6.9 feet-long female crocodile staying in the captivity of a pen inside the sanctuary. The sanctuary, famous for its mangrove cover, estuarine crocodiles and other endangered flaura and fauna, is presently closed for tourists and visitors and the prohibition — effective from 1 May — will remain in force till 30 June.
These restrictions came in the wake of the ensuing nesting season of the salt-water crocodiles so that the breeding estuarine species can have undisturbed mating in and around the water-bodies.
While no other river-system in Orissa possesses the estuarine crocodiles, Bhitarkanika has hogged the spotlight from time to time for these species. It also houses the country’s only captive white crocodile.
According to wildlife officials in Rajnagar Mangrove Forest Division, this chance-sighting was noticed by forestors last weekwhile taking count of the number of crocodiles’ nests.
While the famous Gori is not 100 per cent albino in nature, at least two of the seven crocodiles sighted along the Bhitarkanika waters recently were fair and white in complexion — more than that of Gori’s complexion — wildlife personnel told The Statesman.
Rest of the five crocodiles found in the water had whitish patches all along their bodies.
While their movement is being kept under observation, it is being said by some experts that chromsional disorder may have led to their typical complexion.
The chance-discovery of these albino estu arice crocodiles has left the conservationists much-elated and they are of the view that an exclusive head-count should be undertaken to asceratin the exact number of white-complexioned reptiles, inhabiting the Bhitarkanika region.
The census drive should also examine whether the albino species had characteristic traits different from the other crocodiles in the same habitat. It may be noted that around 1,330 crocodiles were found inhabiting the Bhitarkanika region as per the census conducted early last year.
Notably, this time of the year was also the time when the number of man-crocodile conflicts used to rise in Bhitarkanika as even the slightest human disturbance irritates the nesting crocodiles, who attack humans in retaliation.
The killing of crocodiles also used to rise due the human reaction — the indiscriminate killings of the crocodiles. However no such casuality has been reported till now this year.
But the threat from crocodiles remain in the minds of teh local people, who avoid the innumerable creeks and nullahs in the Bhitarkanika — the real “danger-zones”.
White salt-water crocodiles spotted in Bhitarkanika?

A "horde" of white crocs in the wild? It sounds, as they might have seen some crocs, covered with light coloured dry mud or stuff like this...

I'd say you're right. Especially since since some of them have white "patches". Dry mud or other debris is the only explanation I think is possible.
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