The Bhitarkanika National Park authorities expanded the pens of captive female crocodiles Gori and Hyderabadi at the Dangamal Research Centre and connected them with creeks in the park to give them an experience of the wild. The duo been hatched artificially in the centre and was staying there since1975.
“The idea is to give the captive estuarine crocodiles a free and soothing environment. They would get an opportunity to cope with reptiles in the wild. If the duo is found to be comfortable with the new habitat, the Forest department may think to release them in the wild for all time to come,” said Rajnagar DFO Kedar Kumar Swain, adding that the park authority conducted the experiment after a thorough discussion and consensus on it.
According to Swain, the pen in which Gori is staying has been expanded by eight times and connected with a nearby creek. Similarly, the pen of Hyderabadi has also been expanded to a nearby creek for its free movement in natural atmosphere.
“We have been monitoring the behaviour and movement of the duo captive salt water crocodiles, who are experiencing a new atmosphere in the wild.
To the surprise, the crocodiles have been moving freely from the pen to the wild and it seems they prefer to be in the new environment.
The Forest department is also gradually controlling the feeding and has given opportunity to the duo crocodiles to collect their food in the wild,” the DFO added.
Notably, the wildlife conservationists had earlier suggested that albino Gori should be released free into the wild, but senior officials of the Forest department had not agreed to it.
But earlier this year, the Forest department decided to provide a wild atmosphere to the two crocodiles on an experimental basis.
The 6.9 feet Gori, which is said to be one of the rare crocodiles in Asia, is a treasure trove of Bhitarkanika. It is 39 years old and continues to attract visitors. It was white in colour in initial years but gradually its complexion is changing with its growing age.