Veterninary colleges in Gujarat to have Crocodile Units

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat forest department has decided to not only recognize the non-government organizations working in the field of rescue and research of crocodiles but will also set up a separate unit on crocodile which will carry out the research and other studies related to crocodile.
During a meeting held in Sasan on the World reptile day, the department decided that a microchip would also be inserted in all the crocodiles that have rescued or have been found to have attacked human.This is the practice which has been adopted by the forest department in case of rescue of Asiatic Lion. The microchip will inform the department if the reptile rescued was for the second time.
Chief Conservator of Forest A P Singh said that during the meeting held in Sasan on Friday on the World Reptile Day it was decided that apart from having a special unit for crocodile has plans to suggest a special course on wildlife studies. “We have observed that those veterinary persons who are recruited are to be trained. They are only trained to handle domestic vets,” he said.
Singh further said that the it was also decided that the department will also go in for a mapping of the areas which have strong crocodile population. He said that apart from the mapping the department has also decided that they would carry out regular population estimation of the crocodile in the state. He said in the year 1955, there were 1500 odd crocodile in the state and today there are around 2000 odd crocodile in the state. The Maximum 600 odd were in Junagadh, 300 odd in Kutch and 200 odd in Charotar and equal number in Vadodara.
He further said that during the meeting it was also decided that the state would have a state action plan to control the population of crocodile in the state and even for their preservation. The action plan will also give guidelines of where to release the rescued crocodile.
During the meeting it was also decided to have a study on the diseases and its surveillance in the crocodile. “So far there have been no such information available,” said Singh.