Crocs coming out of artificially eggs in Orissa

KENDRAPARA: Wildlife lovers are jubilant as babies of estuarine crocodiles have emerged out of the artificially hatched eggshells in the crocodile research farm of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa.

As part of 'rear and release' programme of these endangered species, eggs collected from the wild were hatched artificially, said Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) division officials.

Of the 78 eggs hatched this year, 41 babies has emergence from equal number of nests, they said.

The young crocodiles released into a captive pond would be reared for more than a year after which they will be released into the wild.

The rear and release of these hatched reptiles has been going on since 1975, funded by the UNDP.

The conservation project undertaken in Bhitarkanika is a huge success, while, a similar UNDP-funded 'gharial croc' conservation project launched simultaneously in Tikarpada Sanctuary was a failure.

From hardly a hundred, the reptile population in Bhitarkanika has swelled considerably over the years. Now a total of 1498 crocodiles inhabit in the sanctuary, according to the latest wildlife census.