Berhampur: The population of ‘Mugger’ crocodiles in Ghodahada irrigation reservoir of Odisha’s Ganjam district has registered a marginal increase in one year.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Berhampur Amlan Nayak said total 81 muggers, also known as marsh crocodile, were counted during the annual census. Berhampur forest division conducted the 3-day census in a five sq km reservoir area from January 6 to 8.
“The estimated population of the crocodile species was 76 including 58 inside the dam and 18 in nearby ponds last year. It has increased to 81 including 64 inside the dam and 71 migrated to nearby ponds this year,” said the DFO.
The Forest employees were engaged to enumerate the mugger crocodiles which have been declared as a ‘vulerable’ species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
The entire reservoir was divided into 10 segments and each segment was looked after by one staff member with a country boat. Another 10 employees were deployed in 10 adjoining ponds. The census was conducted by the direct sight method from 6 am to 4 pm, said Nayak.
“Mugger is one of three crocodile species found in Odisha. The other species are ‘Gharial’ mostly sighted in Satkosia and ‘Baula’ in Bhitarkanika. Ghodahada reservoir is considered as one of the potential habitats for the ‘Muggers’ in the state,” he said.
“The census aims at ensuring habitat improvement of mugger with involvement of local fishermen by providing them incentives under the United Nations Development Project (UNDP). We have formed cluster committees and sensitise the fishermen regularly,” he added.
‘Mugger’ is not aggressive and hardly attacks the fishermen of the adjoining 7 villages. The fishermen catch around 150 kg of fish from the reservoir everyday without any fear. “For this reason, the villagers protect and nourish these crocodiles. There is no conflict between the man and the animals in the Ghodahada irrigation reservoir,” Nayak said.
The first census of the crocodiles was carried out in 2008 after the Ghodahada irrigation reservoir was constructed in 1975. Though no major study has been done on these crocodiles in the reservoir, the locals maintain that they were found in the large pond of the temple before 2006 and later, migrated to the reservoir after 2006.
The reservoir, located near Lakhari valley sanctuary in the Eastern Ghats on the border of Ganjam and Gajapati districts, was part of a medium irrigation project on Ghodahada river. Ghodahada is the tributary of river Rushikulya. Construction of the reservoir was completed in 1975, sources said.
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