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

Maha Snana Ritual Underway In Odisha’s Maa Tara Tarini Temple Post Theft

Berhampur: Maha Snana ritual will be conducted at Tara Tarini Temple, allegedly desecrated by thieves…

November 8, 2024

Religious Body Demands Ban On Shop Allotment To Non-Hindus At Mahakumbh Mela In Uttar Pradesh

Allahabad: A Hindu religious body, Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, has reportedly demanded that no shops…

November 8, 2024

Aligarh Muslim University Entitled To Minority Status: Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday overturned its 1967 order that said the Aligarh…

November 8, 2024

Odisha Serial ATM Fraudster Arrested Again For Theft In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Most-wanted ATM looter Sambhav Acharya (34) has been again arrested along with his aide,…

November 8, 2024

Know Susie Wiles, First Woman White House Chief Of Staff

New Delhi: US President-elect Donald Trump has named his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as White…

November 8, 2024

Posco To Return To Dhinkia With JSW’s Rs 65,000 Cr Steel Plant, Says Odisha MP

Bhubaneswar: Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group will jointly set up its Rs 65,000 crore steel plant…

November 8, 2024

19-Yr-Old Gangraped, Filmed & Blackmailed In Odisha’s Cuttack City; 6 Including Boyfriend Arrested

Cuttack: Badambadi police have arrested six persons, including a minor, for allegedly gangraping and blackmailing…

November 8, 2024

Salman Khan Gets Yet Another Threat Over Song Linking Him With Lawrence Bishnoi

New Delhi: A day after the threat to Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood actor Salman Khan…

November 8, 2024