Salt water crocs shifted to biopark

4 Mar, 2009

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Salt water crocs shifted to biopark

Breeding Pair of Salt Water Crocks Shifted to Biological Park

Mar 04, 2009

Port Blair, Feb 3: The Wildlife Wing of Department of Environment & Forests, Andaman & Nicobar Islands as part of the training programme on "Capacity Building in Capture/ Translocation of Salt Water Crocodile" organized between 25th February and 01st March, 2009, undertook a
challenging operation on 27th February, 2009 (Friday) forenoon of shifting the breeding pair of Salt Water Crocodiles from the Mini Zoo, Haddo their home for the past 25 years to a more spacious and natural landscape enclosure with a large water-body at the upcoming Biological
Park in Chidiyatapu.

The male crocodile is more than 30 years old, has attained length of 4.65 metres (about 15 feet) weighing more than a ton. The operation began at 0530 hours in the morning by the expert Shri. Nikhil Whitekar, Dr. Gauri and Shri Munnuswamy from Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Shri.
Manish Chandi of Andaman & Nicobar Environment Team (ANET) and Shri P. Rama Rao, Shri K. Mohd. Ali and trainees/staff of the Department of Environment & Forests and Mini Zoo, Haddo.

Both the Crocodiles were transported in separate trucks over the distance of 30 Km and successfully released in the new enclosure at the up coming Biological Park at around 1030 hrs. This was the first operation of its kind in the islands. According to the Forest Department, the pair has adapted very well to the new environment and is under regular monitoring.