Saltwater crocodile conservation efforts fuel human-wildlife conflict in India

Record ID: 1640905

  • Title: Saltwater crocodile conservation efforts fuel human-wildlife conflict in India
  • Date: 10th October 2021
  • Summary: LOCAL WOMAN, ANNAPURNA, SHOWING HER FEET WHERE SHE WAS ATTACKED BY CROCODILE (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SISTER OF TEENAGER KILLED IN CROCODILE ATTACK, PARBATI BEHURIA, SAYING: "Villagers started shouting when the crocodile took my brother, but it is such a powerful animal, what could we have done to fight its strength. Everyone felt that there might be an incident since it is suc
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2021 10:01
  • Keywords: Bay of Bengal India Kendrapara Odisha crocodile human-wildlife conflict monsoon saltwater crocodile
  • Location: KENDRAPARA, ODISHA, INDIA
  • City: KENDRAPARA, ODISHA, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Environment,Nature/Wildlife
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EYKRA6N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Successful saltwater crocodile conservation efforts initiated by the government of India in the delta region of eastern Odisha state have come with significant side effects for the human-wildlife balance in the region.
    With increasing cases of crocodile attacks and sightings in the riparian villages, locals are living in the fear of coming toe-to-toe with the large aquatic reptiles.
    Chandan, a teenager in the village left behind his grieving parents and a little sister, when he was attacked by a crocodile and dragged into the river a few weeks back.
    "Villagers started shouting when the crocodile took my brother, but it is such a powerful animal, what could we have done to fight its strength," said Chandan's baby sister Parbati on Saturday (October 09).
    Another local woman, Annapurna narrated how she saved herself with the help of her sister-in-law from a crocodile attack when they had gone to wash clothes at the river.
    Saltwater crocodiles often live in seas or oceans but also wander along nearby rivers during the monsoon season, which leads to flooding and mixing of water resources. It is also the season for them to lay eggs and soak in the sun, post-monsoon.
    Villagers in such remote areas in India are often dependent on a single water source near the village for all their daily needs in the absence of taped water connections.
    Both men and women have nowhere to bathe but in the river, where they are constantly worried about a crocodile attack. Crocodiles dragging livestock, who come for grazing near river area is another worry for the locals.
    Villagers say that earlier the crocodiles used to come in the monsoon season from the Bay of Bengal and then return home after monsoon but for the past one and a half year, they are not going back home.
    Experts believe that these crocodiles are not coming from the sea but are new hatchlings looking for more area after their population rose.
    Saltwater crocodiles are Schedule-I reptiles and Bhitarkanika National Park is known for having the highest density of saltwater crocodiles in the world and the highest number in India.
    There were 90 saltwater crocodiles in the area in the year 1975, which are increased to 1,800 in 2021, and their increased presence is density-dependent migration, according to local officials.
    The population of these villages combined is around 200,000 who are constantly living under crocodile attack threat.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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