DECCAN HERALD (India) 29 February 04 Free after 25 years (Bhibuti Misra)
The first white crocodile in the country would no more be captive. After spending 28 years in captivity, the prime attraction of the Bhitarkanika National park, the first white crocodile of the country, Gori, would be released into the wild this winter. Named Gori (fair) for her white colour, the crocodile, one of the two rare salt water crocs found in Asia, was born in 1975 under the ‘rear and release’ programme at Dangamal Crocodile Research Farm inside the Bhitarkanika wildlife wildlife sanctuary in Kendrapara district of Orissa about 120 kms away from Bhubaneswar.
Ever since its birth the crocodile has been living in isolation. She has never allowed mating and has killed three male crocs that the Forest department tried to mate her with. In one fight she even lost an eye. Due to this abnormally aggressive behaviour, Gori was confined to a pen at Dangmal for close to three decades.
The 6.9 ft rare white female crocodile which hogged limelight because of its colour and behaviour has been eating very little and can hardly move. Its health has been deteriorating. According to Dr Sudhakar Kar, a crocodile expert who has been closely monitoring her behaviour, “the crocodile has been under severe stress for want of a partner. So releasing it into the wild might help. But she can be released only in winter when the water level, tidal waves and the fish population are perfect. Since she may take time to adjust to the new conditions, she has to be kept under vigil”.
The forest department has permitted the release of Gori into Suazor creek, where more field staff would be deputed.
At least a dozen white crocodiles were sighted in the creeks of Bhitarkanika sanctuary during the last nesting season. As Anup Nayak, the DFO points out, “the purpose would be fulfiled if she gets a normal stress free life and a partner.” That is something which all the wildlife lovers are fervently hoping for.
Free after 25 years