Odisha's Kendra Para becomes only district in India to have all three crocodile species
- Category
Environment
- Published
6th Sep, 2021
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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