Angul

32 Gharial Hatchlings Swept Away In Floodwaters From Odisha’s Satkosia!

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Thirty-two gharial crocodile hatchlings are feared to have been swept away from Satkosia gorge in the floodwaters of the Mahanadi in Odisha’s Angul district.

While wildlife experts and environmentalists are worried about the safety of the baby gharials, regarded as an endangered freshwater crocodile species, forest officials said a search operation would be carried out to rescue the hatchlings once the floodwaters recede.

These crocodile hatchlings were sighted in the gorge in May this year. These were born from the eggshells of the same mother at the same nesting site through natural breeding on May 11.

While some locals were of the view that the authorities could have taken the hatchlings to an enclosure before the flood to save them, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Satkosia, Saroj Panda, said that the purpose of the Gharial Recovery Project is to make the reptiles acquainted with nature, whereby they can survive. There is little intervention from the authorities, he said.

Satkosia gorge, located on the Mahanadi river near Tikarpada in the district, is known as a natural habitat for gharial crocodiles and these often get swept away by river currents, mainly by floods in the rainy season, making their conservation all the more challenging.

“A search operation would be launched as soon as the flood situation improves and the water recedes. After their rescue, the hatchlings would be released into their natural habitat,” The DFO added.

A total of 28 gharial hatchlings were reportedly swept away in the floodwaters last year.

 

 

 

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

PM Narendra Modi Tweets His Excitement Over Attending ‘Odisha Parba 2024’ Today

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the ‘Odisha Parba 2024’ programme on…

November 24, 2024

SEBI In Dock As Bribery Case Involving Gautam Adani, His Officials Reaches Supreme Court

New Delhi: A fresh application was filed before the Supreme Court on Sunday urging the…

November 24, 2024

[Watch] Odisha CM Disburses Subhadra Assistance To Over 20 Lakh Beneficiaries In 3rd Phase

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi disbursed the first instalment of Rs 5,000 under Subhadra Yojana…

November 24, 2024

Low Pressure Over Bay Of Bengal Becomes Well Marked; Will It Intensify Into Cyclone?

Bhubaneswar: The low-pressure over east Equatorial Indian Ocean (EIO) and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal…

November 24, 2024

Here’s Why Rishabh Pant Gifted Scooters To Two Factory Workers

New Delhi: Cricket fans were left gasping for breath in December 2022 when Indian wicketkeeper-batter…

November 24, 2024

ASI To Submit Schedule For Ratna Bhandar Repair Work Today: Odisha Minister

Puri: Repair work of Shree Jagannath temple's Ratna Bhandar in pilgrim town of Puri will…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Activists Rescue 20-Yr-Old Married Woman Trafficked To Maharashtra, Raped For 14 Days

Bhubaneswar: A 20-year-old married woman, allegedly kidnapped from Odisha's Nabarangpur and then raped, and held…

November 24, 2024

India Counted 640 Million Votes In A Day, California Still Counting: Elon Musk Takes Jibe At US Poll Process

New York: Slamming the prolonged delays in some parts of United States, Elon Musk on…

November 24, 2024