Chitwan : Fifteen ghariyal crocodiles grown up at the Crocodile Breeding Center, Kasara, have been released in the Rapti River. These aquatic reptiles were released in the river in the witnesses of special guests.
British Ambassador to Nepal, Richard Morris; ZSL ( Zoological Society of London) Director General, Dominic Jermey; national representative Hemsagar Baral; National Trust for Nature Conservation’s Programme Director Sarita Gyawali; Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Director General Man Bahadur Khadka, Directorate of National Park and Wildlife Conservation’s Brigadier General Homnath Dawadi were present to witness the release.
According to Chitwan National Park Chief Conservation Officer, Bed Kumar Dhakal, there was a plan of releasing some 100 crocodiles in various rivers this year. However, as many as 1,380 crocodiles brought up in the center have been released into rivers located in different parts of the country so far.
A crocodile completing five years of age is considered fit for the river life. The center has currently over 500 crocodiles.
Bed Bahadur Khadka, who takes charge of center’s assistant conservation officer, who viewed that among the giant reptiles set free in the river, only one is male which is rare in crocodile life.
The latest census has put the number of this animal in the Rapti River at 118 and the Narayani River has 101, CNP Information Officer Gopal Ghimire said.
The center has chosen Kaligandaki, Saptakoshi, Karnali and Babai Rivers besides Rapti and Karnali Rivers for the release of crocodiles which flow into India. But their return is not possible due to the Gandak barrage. RSS
