About Crocodile
Crocodiles are semiaquatic reptiles that live in the tropical areas of Asia, Africa, Australia and America. These creatures reside in big tropical lakes, rivers and dams; they remain dormant in dry climates and aestivate. Crocodiles cannot breathe underwater; however, they can hold their breath for 20 minutes to an hour. Such reptiles have various colour patterns and range from grey to brown. Crocodiles have different colours and shapes. The most common types of crocodiles we see are greenish-brown. They are famous for their sharp teeth and claws. One fun fact about crocodiles is that they cannot stick out their tongues.
Nepal is rich in wildlife and biodiversity. There is a crocodile habitat in Nepal as well. The wetland biodiversity of this country includes crocodiles. At the sandbanks at the western, lowland lakes, crocodiles bask in the sun and use them for nesting. There is a crocodile breeding centre for the preservation of these species.
Types Of Crocodiles In Nepal
There are two species of the family Crocodylidae in Nepal. The species include the marsh mugger and gharial. The scientific name of mugger is Crocodylus palustris; it is a vulnerable reptile in this country.
Caption: Crocodile Stealth in Still Waters
Gharial belongs to the subfamily Gavialinae; hence, its scientific name is Gavialis gangeticus. In 1974, the gharial was on the verge of extinction. About 150 adults were living in this range. Due to the degradation of crocodile habitats in Nepal, subsequent measures have been taken to save them. There were subsequent restocking and breeding programs for crocodiles in Nepal and India.
Famous Place For Crocodile Habitat in Nepal
The mugger and gharial are present in the Indian subcontinent. The history of mugger crocodile goes back to Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh for the gharial. The gharial crocodiles in Nepal live in the river systems here. These rivers include the Karnali, Babai, Mahakali, Bheri and the Narayani river along with its tributaries. These are some famous crocodile habitats in Nepal. It comprises the Kali Gandaki River in central Nepal. Also, they are present in the Sapta Koshi Tappu region on the eastern side.
The mugger crocodiles in Nepal live across different Terai regions. They reside in Terai areas such as the east and west Rapti, the Koshi, and the Narayani river systems. Over the years, muggers and gharials have co-existed in the Narayani, Babai, and Karnali rivers.
Crocodile Habitat In Nepal
Over the years, the population of gharials in the Sapta Koshi and Mahakali rivers has been low. The remaining numbers of these creatures live in the Babai, Karnali & Narayani rivers. They are close to protected reserves in Chitwan National Park and Bardiya National Park.
Caption: Crocodile Ancient Waters' Guardian
The muggers live around protected areas such as Bardia, Chitwan National Park, and the Shukla Panta Wildlife Reserve. Researches report a few numbers in the Lumbini and Sapta Koshi area. The Bahuni River and the Mahakali are close to the Shukla Panta reserve and also adjacent to Uttar Pradesh. However, over the years, the population of this crocodile has been decreasing—one of the leading causes being habitat loss.
Crocodile Breeding Center
In mid-1970, the gharial population was getting low, with a range of up to 300. It was almost on the verge of extinction. At that time, only 70 gharial crocodiles were present in the Rapti, Karnali, Babai, Narayani, and Koshi rivers. The reason for this was people stealing their eggs, poaching for skin, pollution, reservoir and dam construction, poisoning of fish and more. For this reason, the Nepal government set up the gharial breeding centre in Kasara, Chitwan National Park, in 1978. This breeding centre provides artificial conditions for hatching crocodile eggs. When the baby crocodiles grow up, they transfer to the rivers. This crocodile breeding centre aims to create viable options for wildlife protection and preservation.
From 1984 to 2017, the crocodile breeding centre released around 1,246 gharials into river systems such as the Kaligandaki, Karnali, Narayani, Babai, and Rapti rivers. Some challenges include industrial pollution, hunting and unsustainable fishing practices. The local bodies encourage the local communities to conserve and protect these creatures. The crocodile breeding centre contributes to this purpose in the Bardiya and Chitwan National Parks.
