The Koromjol Crocodile Breeding Center in the Sundarbans has been faced with a significant setback – with crocodile production coming to a standstill for the past few years.
The Forest Department has attributed this troubling trend to the aging crocodiles in the center, which has led to their diminished fertility.
The Koromjol Crocodile Breeding Center was established 23 years ago to protect the endangered saltwater crocodiles of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest.
The breeding initiative embarked upon its journey with two distinguished mother crocodiles, Juliet and Pilpil, along with a male crocodile bearing the evocative name of Romeo. Their offspring were meticulously nurtured and subsequently released into the river to fortify the dwindling crocodile population in the Sundarbans.
Yet, the passage of time has taken its toll on Romeo, Juliet, and Pilpil – thereby resulting in reduced fertility and a consequential setback in the breeding process.
The Forest Department anticipates that it will take approximately 12 years for the centre's new crocodiles to regain their reproductive vigour.
When asked, Officer-in-Charge of the Koromjol Wildlife Breeding Centre in the East Sundarbans Howladar Azad Kabir has expressed profound concern regarding the dearth of crocodile eggs from the year 2018 to 2023 – thereby attributing it to the age-related challenges faced by the crocodiles. According to him, "To reinvigorate the breeding programme, we have introduced six new crocodiles into a separate pond within the Koromjol enclosure. These crocodiles are between seven and eight years old, comprising two males and four females. The female crocodiles are projected to begin laying eggs when they reach the age of 14 to 15, rekindling our hopes for the breeding programme's revival. Currently, there are 100 baby crocodiles in residence at Koromjol."
In the midst of this endeavour, nature has presented its own challenges. The forest department reports that 75 crocodiles fell victim to natural calamities, with Cyclone Sidr and forest leopard cats claiming the lives of 62 juvenile crocodiles.
Further exacerbating the situation is the insufficient allocation of resources, including food and specialist medical care, for the crocodiles at the breeding centre. However, the prospect of exporting crocodiles from Koromjol holds promise, contingent on the success of the breeding efforts.The saga of crocodile conservation in the Sundarbans began in 1997 following the capture of saltwater crocodiles in Dublar Char. In 2002, a dedicated crocodile breeding centre was established within an eight-acre forest area in Koromjol, Chandpai Range, with an estimated cost of Tk 23 lakhs at the time.
Forest officer Azad Kabir recounted that the breeding centre officially embarked on its mission in 2002, but it wasn't until 2005 that the crocodiles laid their first eggs. Tragically, on November 15, 2007, Super Cyclone Sidr wreaked havoc, sweeping away 75 crocodiles from the centre. To date, a total of 206 robust crocodile offspring have been released into the
Sundarbans. Nevertheless, in the initial week of February 2017, a 'cheetah cat' breached the enclosure's netting, inflicting a grievous toll by preying on and consuming 62 crocodiles. The subsequent year, despite the efforts of the two mother crocodiles, Juliet and Pilpil, who laid 91 eggs, none of them hatched, leaving conservationists disheartened. Environmentalists have advocated for creating a conducive environment for crocodile breeding within the Sundarbans, including the construction of elevated nesting areas to shield precious eggs from predators.
Sheikh Faridul Islam, Chairman of the Save the Sundarban Foundation, underscores the importance of increased funding for crocodile specialists and sustenance, a move that could potentially pave the way for crocodile exports from the Koromjol breeding centre.
Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change Begum Habibun Nahar has affirmed the government's unwavering commitment to preventing crocodile extinction by redoubling breeding efforts and appointing trained crocodile experts and wildlife doctors.