Odisha becomes only state to have all three species of crocodiles

Odisha has emerged the only state to have all the three species of the reptile freshwater ghadials at Satakosiya in Mahanadi, muggers in Bhitar Kanika National park and saltwater crocodiles. Gharial eggs need incubation for 70 days, and the hatchlings stay with their mothers for several weeks or even months. For the first time since they were introduced in its rivers back in 1975, Odisha has seen the natural nesting of Ghadials, a critically endangered species. As many as 28 hatchlings were spotted towards the end of May in the Mahanadi, in the Baladamara area near the Satkosia range. Officials have been monitoring them closely since, with round-the-clock surveillance with drones. All the original ghadials introduced over the years in Odisha are dead now. Having waited more than 40 years for their numbers to grow naturally and for them to lay eggs, Odisha introduced 13 more ghadials over the past three years in the Mahanadi. Only eight survived. While the Forest Department is still tracking two of them via their radio collars, the other six have moved out of its radar. “Natural nesting of endangered gharials seen near Mahanadi river after 43 years in Baladamara area near Satkosia. Odisha is the only state to have all 3 species freshwater gharials, muggers & saltwater crocodiles," said Suvendu Behera, Asst Conservator of Forest, Anugul.