More at http://www.sanctuaryasia.com |In the Field
Since 1989, the concerted conservation eff orts of several organisations such as the Crocodile
Bank and individuals such as Baba, have enabled muggers to make a comeback in India.At a time when crocodilian conservation was moving towards population biology, captive management and
husbandry, Baba was implementing his own brand of conservation.Von Humboldt surely would have
conducted an experiment to test this.
Baba has been shifting the juveniles to
the bigger ponds safely, year after year.
“They are all my children,” he adds.
By 1989, we were celebrating
the increase in the population of
crocodiles in India and at the same
time Whitaker highlighted the
importance of ameliorating the locals’
fears, and he began educating them
about conservation. It was becoming
increasingly diffi cult in many areas to
release crocodiles, because of opposition
from locals who were unfamiliar and
afraid of muggers. Jogia talab, by then,
had begun witnessing an increase in
the number of visitors, and Baba used
the opportunity to enlighten children
and locals about the muggers in their
village. He began entertaining visitors
and villagers by speaking about mugger
behaviour, so that their nesting period
would be respected. Baba had little
idea about the global conservation
imperatives and still has little idea of
the global concern for the reptilians. At
a time when crocodilian conservation
was moving towards population biology,
captive management and husbandry,
Baba was implementing his own brand
of conservation through ecological
associations that involved no cost at all
and were not part of any ‘project’ apart
from his lifestyle.
I guess it would not be completely
accurate to state that there was
‘no cost’ incurred. On April 1, 2006,
Baba chased some kids who were
harassing an incubating female mugger.
Unaware of just how close he had
approached the mugger, a sudden lunge
and a jaw-clap left Baba’s forearm badly
tattered and torn. Laughing loudly,
he recollected the incident, saying:
“I thought I had been called back by
Ram, but when I realised I was alive, I
understood that my services were still
required.” “But you did not feel angry?”
I asked. “Momentarily yes, but it was
a misunderstanding. They are very
sensitive while incubating eggs,” he
to protect and nurture muggers in
the area, safeguarding their habitat,
monitoring their breeding and assisting
juveniles to safely negotiate their land-
water movements. Often, when visitors
fail to sight a mugger, Baba makes a
distinct ‘Aao aao’ (come come) call, to
which the muggers respond by showing
up near the banks of the pond.
“You have dedicated your life to
serving these Rams, what next now?” I
ask. With his eyes still set at the paddy
fi elds scanning for the kid, he responds
as if narrating his will, “Bas, jab mai maru
to mujhe inhe hi khila dena (not a lot...
when I die, just feed me to them). Å
With inputs from Drigraj P. K. Deo,
who focuses on cultural heritage science.Statue of Unity
Unlike in Kotmi Sonar, no crocodile savior has been able to stop the displacement
of crocodiles in two waterbodies – Pachmuli lake and Khalvani lake – near the
‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat’s Narmada district. Several Indian crocodiles or muggers
were lured into cages using fish bait and transported via pick-up trucks possibly
to the reservoir of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam. Dr Jitendra Gavali, Director,
Community Science Centre, Vadodara, expressed his concern to DailyO saying the
transfer of reptiles in such large numbers for making a seaplane terminal are “against
the principles of the Wildlife Protection Act”. He also warned that if the slope of
the dam was more than 40 degrees, female crocodiles would not be able to nest. A
whole slew of other issues also come into play. No carrying-capacity study has been
undertaken of the new site or efforts made to take cognizance of the behaviour of
the crocodiles. India muggers are territorial animals and introducing so many animals
into a reservoir could result in territorial fights and mortality.clarifi es. This incident led to the Forest
Department laying the foundation
stone for the Crocodile Park on May
9, 2006, which was inaugurated on
August 23, 2008. Supported by a rich
history, suitable habitat and a full-time
naturalist, the creation of a crocodile
park in Kotmi was only natural.
The only consolidated checklist
of 45 species of reptiles under 29
genera of 11 families from Chhattisgarh,
was published in 2005. Surprisingly
Crocodylus palustris was not included on
the list despite its obvious presence... for
reasons yet unknown.
Thirteen years since the fateful day
of Baba’s interaction with the croc, his
lifestyle remains unchanged. He continues