Saltwater crocs face extinction

Saltwater crocodiles are fighting for survival because of dwindling fish stocks, their main staple, in the rivers and canals crisscrossing the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrobe forest. This has been observed by a team of wildlife experts.  
Dr Romulas Whitaker, one of the experts, is one of the world’s biggest authorities on reptiles. He is currently working as a consultant on a World Bank-funded study to determine the status of saltwater crocodiles in the Sundarbans.
The study, funded by the International Development Association of the WB, under its ‘Strengthening of Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection (SRCWP)—a project administered by the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) through the Centre for advanced Research in Natural Resources and Management (CARINAM) for a period of two years to assess the population of saltwater crocodiles in the Sundarbans since last year.  
The Sundarbans has become the last retreat for the saltwater crocodiles after they have been driven to extinction along the coastal waters. These crocodiles have been declared an endangered species by the International Conservation of Nature (IUCN). But no official survey has been conducted till now to assess their number.  
However, the sightings of saltwater crocodiles have become rare over time, said Dr Whitaker, who visited the Sundarbans last week in connection with the CARINAM study. He was accompanied by Dr SMA Rashid. Dr Whitaker has been visiting the mangrove forest since 1982 to study its reptile population. He runs the world’s first snake park in Chennai, India.
Dr Rashid said baby crocodiles often get tangled up in the nets of local fishermen and therefore their sightings have become rare these days. The baby crocodiles are killed by fishermen who consider them to be a threat to their catch, he added.
Another reason the crocodiles are finding it difficult to survive is a decline in fish stocks in the rivers and estuaries because of over fishing. The use of gill-nets, known as current nets, is destroying small fish and roe, he added.
Another reason behind the dwindling crocodile population is human intrusion. Some 50,000 people visit the Sundarbans on a daily basis, including fishermen, poachers, collectors of honey, wood and Nipa palm leaves. Also, there is a huge influx of tourists who disturb the peace and litter the forest with wastes.
Their antics not only affect the aquatic life but also disturb Royal Bengal tigers during the mating season.
Besides, movements of engine-run vessels create noise pollution and pollute the water, as they leave oil residue, Dr Rashid said.  Despite this scenario, crocodiles have been found crocodiles in the Shela, Bhadra, Harbaria, and Shibsa rivers of the Sundarbans, asserted Dr Rashid.
He, however, said the exact number of saltwater crocodiles in the Sunderbans is unknown.

Saltwater crocs face extinction

Saltwater crocodiles are fighting for survival because of dwindling fish stocks, their main staple, in the rivers and canals crisscrossing the Sundarbans, the worlds largest mangrobe forest. This has been observed by a team of wildlife experts. Dr Romulas Whitaker, one of the experts, is one of the worlds biggest authorities on reptiles. He is currently working as a consultant on a World Bank-funded study to determine the status of saltwater crocodiles in the Sundarbans. The study, funded by the International Development Association of the WB, under its Strengthening of Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection (SRCWP)a project administered by the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) through the Centre for advanced Research in Natural Resources and Management (CARINAM) for a period of two years to assess the population of saltwater crocodiles in the Sundarbans since last year. The Sundarbans has become the last retreat for the saltwater crocodiles after they have been driven to extinction along the coastal waters. These crocodiles have been declared an endangered species by the International Conservation of Nature (IUCN). But no official survey has been conducted till now to assess their number. However, the sightings of saltwater crocodiles have become rare over time, said Dr Whitaker, who visited the Sundarbans last week in connection with the CARINAM study. He was accompanied by Dr SMA Rashid. Dr Whitaker has been visiting the mangrove forest since 1982 to study its reptile population. He runs the worlds first snake park in Chennai, India. Dr Rashid said baby crocodiles often get tangled up in the nets of local fishermen and therefore their sightings have become rare these days. The baby crocodiles are killed by fishermen who consider them to be a threat to their catch, he added. Another reason the crocodiles are finding it difficult to survive is a decline in fish stocks in the rivers and estuaries because of over fishing. The use of gill-nets, known as current nets, is destroying small fish and roe, he added. Another reason behind the dwindling crocodile population is human intrusion. Some 50,000 people visit the Sundarbans on a daily basis, including fishermen, poachers, collectors of honey, wood and Nipa palm leaves. Also, there is a huge influx of tourists who disturb the peace and litter the forest with wastes. Their antics not only affect the aquatic life but also disturb Royal Bengal tigers during the mating season. Besides, movements of engine-run vessels create noise pollution and pollute the water, as they leave oil residue, Dr Rashid said. Despite this scenario, crocodiles have been found crocodiles in the Shela, Bhadra, Harbaria, and Shibsa rivers of the Sundarbans, asserted Dr Rashid. He, however, said the exact number of saltwater crocodiles in the Sunderbans is unknown.