Port Blair, Jan 29: Saltwater Crocodile is a keystone species that play an important role in biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystems. Effective management plans are critical for the continued existence of crocodile populations and minimizing the human crocodile conflict in coastal and marine environments of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Limited data on the population size, distribution, age structure and sex ratio pose difficulties in addressing the issues related to its conservation and management of the species and also developing mitigating measures to reduce the human animal conflicts. Establishing the status and distribution of saltwater crocodile in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is recognized as a priority by the Department of Environment and Forests, Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in the saltwater crocodile’s natural distribution area. The Islands long coastline of 1962 km frilled with numerous creeks and lush green mangroves are habitat for saltwater crocodiles.
The primary objective of this census is to conduct population assessments in all creeks, mangrove areas and other coastal areas of entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A total of 122 major creeks viz. 36 in south Andaman, 11 in Baratang, 11 in Middle Andaman, 12 in Mayabunder, 13 in Diglipur, 8 in Havelock, 6 in Little Andaman and 25 in Nicobar Islands have been identified for carrying out the census. Both day count and night count using spotlight will be carried out to estimate the population status, size, distribution and structure, etc. Besides direct count, information on the indirect evidences particularly the crawl marks, drag mark, nests, etc will be collected. Also, information on its location using GPS, temperature of both ambient air and surface water using thermometer, and salinity using PH will be collected. A population distribution map of saltwater crocodile using GIS will be generated. A team comprising four persons is assigned for each creek and thus 500 people will take part in the census operation in the Islands. The saltwater crocodile census is will be carried out on 30.1.2016 at 7.30 am and on 31.1.2016 at 3.00 pm and will continue till 11.00 pm in the night.
Apart from the department staff, representatives of Panchayat Raj Institutions, local people, students, NGOs, Academic and Scientific institutions are taking part in the Census. All the members of the census team have been provided with three rounds of training on census techniques by the wildlife wing by involving experts from WII, WTI, BNHS and ZSI. For participation in the census activities, the interested persons may contact 9531930397 and 9531868898.
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