GUEST EDITORIAL

"Extinction is forever" - has been a reality for several species in the last couple of centuries. The fear that shrinking habitats, wanton killing of wild species and anthropogenic pressures may cause many of our wild species to be lost forever, has led to an urgency on saving a species from extinction and has forced conservationists to adopt a "species oriented conservation strategy", even though the benefits of an "ecosystem or habitat oriented strategy" may be far greater.

The conservation action for the Indian crocodiles is one such case study. By the mid-1970's, the three species of Indian crocodilians - gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), mugger (Crocodylus palustris) and saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), were on the verge of extinction. Concerned at this, the Government of India initiated a project to save the crocodilians, adopting an integrated conservation approach, which included an intensive ex situ programme to create a large crocodile population rapidly, to be followed by setting up of protected areas where wild population could be reintroduced for in situ management. Today, 25 years later, the Indian crocodilians have been brought back from the brink of extinction and there has been successful breeding of the reintroduced crocodilians in the wild in several protected areas.

The project involved UNDP and FAO besides the Ministry of Environment of Forests (MoEF), Government of India, and wildlife management agencies of the various state
governments. The project provided a right mix of management and scientific inputs - a strong research base, a well planned strategy (head-start and grow and release), a network of infra-structural facilities (21 ex situ facilities in 12 states) and a strong human resource development component.

This issue of the ENVIS bulletin tries to reconstruct that success story, and place on record the past and present situations to present an updated database on Indian crocodilians at the beginning of the new millennium. Dr HR Bustard, the brain behind this project, shares with us the genesis of the project. This is followed by several state accounts. The various authors, once closely involved in the project, are still involved in the conservation of Indian crocodilians. This issue of Envis on Indian crocodilians and their conservation, is our dedication to that path breaking initiative taken a quarter of a century ago.

There is a newer question too. Now, with a much enhanced renewable resource base, shouldn't we review our existing policies, bring about a paradigm shift and consider crocodile utilization, as suggested by Romulus Whitaker ? Perhaps, yes; may be, no. A debate, possibly difficult to comprehend at present, but nevertheless required. We hope this issue of ENVIS, inspires such a debate.