State proposes crocodile sanctuary in Sunderbans

The state government has proposed to set up a Crocodile Sanctuary in Sunderbans modeled after the Bhitorkonika in Odisha.

A team comprising senior forest department officials left for Odisha to see the preservation of crocodiles there. Around 5000 crocodiles are being preserved at Bhitorkonika Crocodile Park. Odisha government is earning crores of rupees as tourists and nature lovers from all over the world come to Bhitorkonika every year to have an on the spot experience.

In the past one year a team of forest department officials has been working on the crocodiles of Sunderbans. It has been found that the population of crocodiles has gone up to 282 from 200. The officials could spot 181 crocodiles while the other could not be tracked down but their foot prints have been spotted by the experts.

Binoy Krishna Burman, State Minister for forest said installing radio callers were proposed to have a clear census of crocodiles. A senior state government official said that the team working on the project had carefully studied the habitat, egg laying season and the growth of the crocodiles. They are now trying to find out how the population has gone up over the years. They are also studying whether climate change and environmental pollution have an impact on the crocodiles.

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to make Sunderbans an important destination. She has said that snow clad mountains and royal Bengal tigers could be found only in West Bengal. Over the past one and half years hundreds of tourists have visited the area. Luxury boats from Kolkata take them to the spot where they enjoy bright sunshine, mangrove plantation and even enjoy fishing.