KALINGA TIMES (Bhubaneswar, India) 11 August 08 Crocodile babies emerge out of eggshells
Kendrapara: Wildlife lovers are jubilant as babies of estuarine crocodiles have emerged out of the eggshells in the crocodile research farm of Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary near here.
As part of ‘rear and release' programme of these species, eggs collected from the wild were hatched artificially, said Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) division officials.
Of the 78 eggs hatched this year, there has been emergence of 41 babies from equal number of nests, said sources.
The young crocs released into a captive pond would be reared for more than a year after which they would be released into the wild, said officials.
The rear and release of these hatched reptiles has been going on since 1975 when UNDP had funded the conservation project to save the endangered salt-water crocodiles.
The conservation project undertaken in Bhitarkanika tasted success while a similar UNDP-funded ‘gharial croc' conservation project launched simultaneously in Tikarpada sanctuary was a failure.
From hardly a hundred, the croc population has swelled considerably over the years in Bhitarkanika. A total of 1498 crocs inhabit along Bhitarkanika's water bodies, according to the latest census of these animals.
Crocodile babies emerge out of eggshells