CHITWAN, DECEMBER 14
Lack of potent male crocodiles in the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Kasara, Chitwan, has become a cause of concern for officials at the centre for it could lead to zero reproduction of hatchlings.
The only male crocodile here — aged 42 years — has ceased engaging in reproductive activities due to which 300 eggs laid last April could not be hatched, said Chitwan National Park’s Assistant Conservation Officer Bed Bahadur Khadka.
The eggs collected from various river banks are hatched at this centre, which has a total of 656 crocodiles at present and has set free around 1,600 hatchlings into various rivers so far, according to Chitwan National Park.
Although the male crocodile is normally active in reproductive activities till 50 years, the 42-year-old year male crocodile at the centre did not help hatch any eggs this breeding season, according to Khadka. Crocodiles have an average lifespan of 60-70 years. He was worried that all the eggs in the centre would go to waste if the centre could not arrange a potent male crocodile for hatching eggs.
“The only male crocodile at the centre could be suffering from sperm related issues given his old age,” opined Khadka, adding that there were no veterinary doctors in Nepal to examine the crocodile’s sperm.
The national park had brought the issue to the notice of the concerned authority last July. Preparations were made to bring a male crocodile of reproductive age from Bardia National Park, informed Haribhadra Acharya of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Acharya said they could bring an adult male crocodile from India as well but the situation was not favourable due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Altogether five male crocodiles were reported in the Rapti and Narayani rivers, but they could not be trapped and used for reproductive purpose as they were yet to reach reproductive age, said Khadka.
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