The Indian Railways recently made headlines by supplying water to the Pali district in western Rajasthan. This action was taken as a measure to ensure the survival of the Mugger (or Marsh) Crocodile, as the region’s water bodies have dried up due to an unusually hot March.
About the Mugger or Marsh Crocodile
Known scientifically as Crocodylus palustris, the Mugger Crocodile is an egg-laying and hole-nesting species known for its lethal nature. The habitat of this crocodile is mainly restricted to the Indian subcontinent, where it can be found in various freshwater habitats as well as in coastal saltwater lagoons and estuaries. Notably, it has already become extinct in Bhutan and Myanmar.
Threats to the Mugger Crocodile primarily include habitat destruction, fragmentation, and transformation, in addition to fishing activities and the medicinal use of crocodile parts. Its protection status is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN List of Threatened Species. It also falls under Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Other Species of Crocodilian
Apart from the Mugger, there are other significant crocodilian species such as the Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile and the Gharial.
The Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile is infamous globally as a known maneater and is considered the Earth’s largest living crocodile species. It is found in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, the Sundarbans in West Bengal, and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands, besides other regions in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. It is listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN List of Threatened Species and falls under Appendix I of CITES (except the populations of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, which are included in Appendix II) and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The Gharial, sometimes called gavials, is a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by its long, thin snouts resembling a pot (ghara in Hindi). It is mostly found in the freshwaters of the Himalayan rivers, with the Chambal River in the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains (Madhya Pradesh) known as the primary habitat. Other Himalayan rivers like Ghagra, Gandak River, Girwa River, Ramganga River, and the Sone River serve as secondary habitats. It’s listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN List of Threatened Species, falls under Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Odisha has announced a cash award of Rs. 1,000 to conserve gharials in the Mahanadi River Basin.
UPSC Civil Services Examination & Crocodile-Related Questions
In the UPSC Civil Services Examination, several questions related to the Crocodilian species have been asked previously. For instance, in 2017, the question was, “If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the following is the best place to visit?” The correct answer was the Chambal River.
In 2013, the examination queried about the endangered status of several fauna of India, including the Gharial. Similarly, in 2010, the Protected area well-known for different species, including the Salt Water Crocodile, was a part of the question paper. These instances further emphasize the importance of awareness and knowledge about these unique reptiles.