It is bonanza breeding time at the Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa this year as 63 of the 79 eggs laid by endangered gharials have hatched.

The eggs of the gharials, members of the crocodile family, were collected from the wild and hatched artificially at the crocodile research farm.

LUCKNOW: A crocodile rescued from outskirts of city was handed over to ghariyal rehabilitation centre at Kukrail on Wednesday. The semi-adult female crocodile has already been put in isolation at the centre to come to terms with its new surroundings. The isolation will continue for about 10 days.

LUCKNOW: The young ghariyal hatchlings are thankful to monsoon clouds that fly away without a downpour. Spread over their sanctuary at Girwa river of Katarniaghat the young reptiles must be watchful of every cloud that hovers over, praying `oh rain gods let us grow a little older to swim before you get generous'.

Katarniyaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, a unit of the Dudhwa Tiger reserve, remains the safest haven for the wildlife in the state. While the last census carried out by Project Tiger gave an estimated count of 110 big cats in the entire Dudhwa National Park, the state census in 2005 put the figure for Katarniyaghat alone at 58.

The country may be facing dire wildlife conservation crises on several fronts, but it turns out that its apex conservation board, chaired by no less than the prime minister, has little time to even meet. Few of its decisions are implemented on the ground anyway. This has prompted many of its members to call for a complete overhaul of its functioning.

The alligator-breeding scheme of Van Vihar is hanging in balance as the Jaipur sanctuary has refused to provide male alligator to Van Vihar. Keeping in mind the decreasing number of alligators the former director of Van Vihar, Dr AK Bhattacharya had prepared this scheme.

The alligator-breeding scheme of Van Vihar is hanging in balance as the Jaipur sanctuary has refused to provide male alligator to Van Vihar. Keeping in mind the decreasing number of alligators the former director of Van Vihar, Dr AK Bhattacharya had prepared this scheme.

Gharial habitat cannot be disturbed

Jamshedpur, Mar 9: After the death of two leopards during the flash floods last year, Tata Steel Zoological Park is better prepared for the coming monsoon this time round.

A BBC film, 'Crocodile Blues', telecast in the Animal Planet series on Monday, gave credit to city wildlife activist Suresh Chowdhary for providing footage.

The film made by Icon films was directed by Bel Roy and it was premiered in London on December 4.

Chowdhary told The Pioneer that he had coordinated and helped in providing material as the vice-president of Katarniyaghat Foundation.