Cuttack, June 23: (Rupashree Swetapadma Mohanty): Forest officials recovered the body of a rare Gharial crocodile from the Mahanadi River near the Madhusudan Bridge in Cuttack on Tuesday. 
Members of the Khuntuni forest department retrieved the body of the fish-eating crocodile after locals spotted it floating near the bridge. Officials suspect that the Gharial died in the Tikarpada area and the river current carried the body downstream to Cuttack.
According to preliminary reports, the crocodile was nearly 9 feet long and about 15 years old. During the recovery, forest officials discovered a tracking chip attached to the crocodile's tail. The forest department seized the satellite transmitter chip to gather data for further investigation. Experts believe the tracking device will help scientists understand the crocodile's movements and determine its condition before its death.
Top officials, including Athagarh Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Manoj Kumar Patra and Khuntuni Range Officer Nilamadhaba Sahu, arrived at the spot immediately with a veterinary doctor from Choudwar to start the investigation. The team moved the body to a facility for a post-mortem examination. Forest authorities stated that the exact cause of death will become clear only after they receive the autopsy report.
Gharials are a critically endangered species. The Wildlife Protection Act lists them under Schedule-1, which grants them the highest level of legal protection in India. The Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary in the Angul district is a major breeding and conservation center for Gharials in Odisha.
The death of this adult Gharial has raised concerns among wildlife enthusiasts. The government spends significant resources on conservation programs to protect these unique reptiles and increase their population in the wild. Forest officials are currently investigating whether natural causes or human activities led to the animal's death.
Members of the Khuntuni forest department retrieved the body of the fish-eating crocodile after locals spotted it floating near the bridge. Officials suspect that the Gharial died in the Tikarpada area and the river current carried the body downstream to Cuttack.
According to preliminary reports, the crocodile was nearly 9 feet long and about 15 years old. During the recovery, forest officials discovered a tracking chip attached to the crocodile's tail. The forest department seized the satellite transmitter chip to gather data for further investigation. Experts believe the tracking device will help scientists understand the crocodile's movements and determine its condition before its death.
Top officials, including Athagarh Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Manoj Kumar Patra and Khuntuni Range Officer Nilamadhaba Sahu, arrived at the spot immediately with a veterinary doctor from Choudwar to start the investigation. The team moved the body to a facility for a post-mortem examination. Forest authorities stated that the exact cause of death will become clear only after they receive the autopsy report.
Gharials are a critically endangered species. The Wildlife Protection Act lists them under Schedule-1, which grants them the highest level of legal protection in India. The Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary in the Angul district is a major breeding and conservation center for Gharials in Odisha.
The death of this adult Gharial has raised concerns among wildlife enthusiasts. The government spends significant resources on conservation programs to protect these unique reptiles and increase their population in the wild. Forest officials are currently investigating whether natural causes or human activities led to the animal's death.
Posts
0 Comments