June 17 is celebrated as World Crocodile day. It is a global awareness campaign to highlight the plight of endangered crocodiles and alligators around the world.
India is home to three crocodilian species:
- The mugger or marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)-IUCN Vulnerable
- The estuarine or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)-IUCN Least Concern
- The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)-IUCN Critically Endangered
The mugger is the most widespread, found in other South Asian countries too. The gharial is found mostly in Himalayan rivers. The estuarine crocodile is found in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, the Sundarbans in West Bengal and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands. It is also found across Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Source: Down to Earth, India times
