Odisha's Kendra Para becomes only district in India to have all three crocodile species

Published: 6th Sep, 2021

Context

Odisha's Kendra Para district, has earned the distinction of being the only district in India where one can find all three species of crocodiles such as Salt-water, gharial, Mugger

Key-facts

Odisha's Kendra Para district has already claimed fame for its successful conservation programme for salt-water or estuarine crocodiles at the Bhitarkanika National Park.
The national park, having 1,768 estuarine crocodiles, is home to 70 per cent of India's such crocodiles, the conservation of which was started way back in 1975.
It is the second largest mangrove forest in India after Sunder bans, hosts the largest population of saltwater crocodiles, including white albino crocodiles.
It is listed as a Ramsar Site.
The crocodilian family consists of 27 different species that are subdivided into three families: True crocodiles, alligators and caimans and gharials.
All three species of crocodilians in the river systems of Odisha:
- Gharial (Gavialisgangeticus), listed as a Critically Endangered by IUCN.
- Mugger crocodile (Crocodyluspalustris), listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
- Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylusporosus), listed as least concern by IUCN

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Odisha's Kendra Para becomes only district in India to have all three crocodile species