India Celebrates 50 Years of Crocodile Conservation Project on World Crocodile Day 2025
| Key Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 50th Anniversary of India's Crocodile Conservation Project (CCP) celebrated on World Crocodile Day (June 17, 2025) |
| Project Launch | 1975, at Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha |
| Supported By | UNDP and FAO |
| Conservation Method | "Rear and release" - Capturing eggs/hatchlings, rearing in captivity, and releasing into protected areas |
| Protected Habitats | Bhitarkanika National Park, Satkosia Tiger Reserve, etc. |
| Species Conserved | Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus - Critically Endangered), Mugger (Crocodylus palustris - Vulnerable), Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus - Least Concern but locally threatened) |
| Ecological Significance | Largest living reptiles; inhabit freshwater ecosystems (rivers, swamps, lakes); saltwater species in coastal estuaries; Poikilothermic (cold-blooded) and primarily nocturnal |
| Threats | Habitat destruction, egg predation, poaching, dams, and sand mining |
| Population Estimates | Gharials: ~3,000 (Chambal, Son, Katarniaghat Sanctuaries); Saltwater Crocodiles: ~2,500 (Bhitarkanika, Sundarbans, Andaman & Nicobar Islands); Muggers: Widespread (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh) |
| Impact of the Project | Revival of near-extinct species; promoted captive breeding, habitat protection, and community awareness; became a replicable model for global reptile conservation |
| Global Significance | India hosts 80% of the world's wild gharial population; Odisha is the only Indian state with all three native crocodilian species thriving in the wild |