Status profile - 11
Status and Conservation of Crocodiles in Madhya Pradesh :
An Update - RJ RAO

 

Madhya Pradesh is one of the biggest states in India, covering an area of around 450,000sq km. It has large water resources, with its total length of river spread being about 20,000 km (Farqui and Verma, 1993), wherein two crocodilian species, the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and mugger (Crocodylus palustris) are available. The former is present in the Ganga river system but only within protected areas, while the latter can be seen in the perennial rivers, freshwater lakes, streams, reservoirs, swamps and marshes. (See Tables 1 and Table 2 )

 

The populations level of these species is very low throughout the range in the state. The crocodile populations outside the protected areas are threatened by hunting and habitat destruction. Most fishermen reported that they do not kill crocodiles purposely, but these are occasionally captured accidentally in the fishing nets.

 

 Conservation Measures

Concerned at the dwindling crocodile populations as a result of large-scale killings because of fear of the animal or conflict, or because of its high trade value, the MP state government undertook a rehabilitation programme for the gharial under the Crocodile Project. Important crocodilian habitats were identified and given protection. Tthree sanctuaries were specially created as part of the programme _ (1) National Chambal Sanctuary; (2) Ken Gharial Sanctuary; and (3) Son Gharial Sanctuary. While the main focus of management in these protected areas was to provide protection to crocodiles, other aquatic animals too have received incidental protection (Rao, et. al. 1995).

 

 Crocodile Rehabilitation  

Rehabilitation of crocodiles was started in 1978 through a `grow and release' technique. A crocodile captive rearing centre has been established at village Deori, in the Morena district in 1980. The following year, gharial nests were located at Baroli and eggs from one of the nests transferred to Deori for artificial incubation (Rao and Sharma, 1986). . In 1986, ten captive reared gharial from the Deori centre were released in the Van Vihar National Park at Bhopal. The captive rearing programme continued up to 1995 and in all 900 wild-laid gharial eggs were collected. Hatchlings emerged 

 

Figure 10 - Crocodiles in Madhya Pradesh ( Zoom the Map )

 

 

from the eggs were carefully reared at the Centre and approximately 250 grown animals were released in Chambal, Ken and Son rivers.

Concurrently, mugger was also reared in captivity. In 1987, a clutch of mugger eggs was collected from the Chambal river. These were also transferred to the Deori centre, and subsequently the grown up young released in the wild. A total of 25 mugger was released in the Chandpata lake inside the Madhav National Park, Shivpuri. One pair of mugger from the Jaipur Zoo was translocated to the Van Vihar National Park in 1988. Captive reared gharial and mugger have also been given to various zoos (Table 3).

 

 Population Monitoring

Monitoring of the released crocodiles in different sanctuaries has been taken up to evaluate the success of the rehabilitation programmes. The current status of crocodiles in different crocodile sanctuaries in the State is shown in Table 4. The 1995-96 census revealed a recovery in the gharial population in the Chambal river in the last decade from an earlier declining status (current population 1214 with adult male to female ration being 21:77), and a need to release more gharial in to the Son river. A total of 75 gharial nests in 21 nesting sites were located in the 400 km of the National Chambal Sanctuary.

Table 1: Occurrence of crocodiles in major rives and other water bodes of Madhya Pradesh

 

 

Table 2. Protected areas for crocodiles in Madhya Pradesh

 

 

 

Table 3.  Crocodiles in Ex-situ facilities in Madhya Pradesh

 

 

Table 4. Data on current crocodile population in the Protected areas in M.P.

 

 

 Conclusion

Madhya Pradesh harbours the best remaining populations of gharial in the country, with three sanctuaries specially created for its conservation. Although, at present it is breeding only in the Chambal river only, but now with the release of a male in the Son river, it is expected that after some years the species will start breeding in that river as well. There are some minor reports of crocodile-human conflicts in different parts of the state, the overall situation for crocodile conservation is encouraging.

 

The recommendations of the workshop on gharial PHVA (Rao et. al. 1995) should be implemented immediately. The rehabilitation programmes should be continued for some more years. Monitoring of released crocodiles has to be continued by the field staff of the protected areas. Research studies on crocodile conservation also need to be encouraged for the better management of crocodiles in the Madhya Pradesh.

 

 References

Farugui AM and Verma, RN (1993) - Development of fisheries in Madhya Pradesh. National Seminar on Conservation and Development of Aquatic Resources. December 1993, Bhopal

 

Rao, R, and RK Sharma (1986) - Gharial rehabilitation in Madhya Pradesh, India. Tigerpaper, 13(1):2-4.

 

Rao, R.J, D Basu, SM Hasan,BB Sharma, S Molur and S Walker (1995) - Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) for Gharial. Workshop report, July 1995