Experts initiate first study of crocodiles

In a first of its kind long-term study in Maharashtra, wildlife experts from Mahad have initiated a two-year intensive survey of marsh crocodiles along the 40-kilometre Savitri riverine stretch to not only estimate the numbers but also understand their habitat and threats to their population.

Ganesh Mehendale of Mahad-based Organisation for Wild Life Studies (OWLS), which is leading the study, said that the river, which originates from Mahabaleshwar and ends at Bankot creek, has a thriving population of crocodiles and yet there are no instances of human-crocodile conflict, something that is not very commonly seen elsewhere in the state. "With no data available about these reptiles nor any long-term conservation plan, we decided to embark on a study for better understanding which will help prevent any conflict with humans in the future too in this area. Meanwhile, some interesting findings could also be shared with other regions of the state that face such conflict," he said, adding that the study which will be carried out in two phases has already been initiated with ground work being carried out as of now and a full-scale survey will begin from May.

Well known Herpetologist Kedar Bhide, founder of Nature Works, which is providing technical support for this study said that the phase 1 of the survey will be extremely crucial and it will mostly involve physical survey including estimation of numbers, identifying crocodile habitats along with their nesting sites. "This information will provide a very valuable base to understand these reptiles in a much better way and by the time phase 1 ends we would have data of their habitats, nesting sites, basking sites and even better understanding of what are the threats to these sites, which will help implement and suggest a short term and long term action plan for conservation," said Bhide adding that meanwhile the proposed phase 2, which will require permissions from the forest department will be a more scientific study in nature involving capture, marking them and recapture to understand their movements and local migrations.

Mehendale informed that for phase 1 for which they have informed forest department they would require a huge number of volunteers who will be provided trainings as they will have to survey the banks on both sides of the 40 km river on foot as well as do boat surveys and hence they are at the moment gathering a team of interested volunteers and asking people from across the State to volunteer.