008-Apr 14, 2025
🐊 BETWEEN STILLNESS AND STRIKE: Mugger Crocodiles of the Cauvery Delta
Theme & Tags:
🕊️ Human-Wildlife Conflict, Conservation Biology, Wetland Ecology
📘 Category: Environment | GS Paper 3
🐾 Opening Whisper
In the hush of the Kollidam, an ancient reptile watches—still as myth, near as breath.
🌊 Key Highlights
- Crocodylus palustris (Mugger Crocodile) mapped in Cauvery Delta
- 85 wild sightings so far; 50+ in Anaikarai alone
- 1,000 km survey range; includes Kollidam, Thenpannaiyar, and Veeranam
- High-risk areas coincide with human activity zones (fishing, defecation, bathing)
- Population centers:
- Sathanur – 299
- Hogenakkal – 93
- Amaravathi – 82
📖
Where the River Basks – The Return of the Mugger
“When the river holds its breath, even the stone may come alive.”
🗺️ Mapping the Muggers
| Aspect | Observation |
|---|---|
| Key Species | Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) |
| Critical Habitats | Often outside Reserve Forests; under Public Works control |
| Conflicts Zones | Anaikarai, Cuddalore, parts of Kollidam basin |
| Human Activity | Peak overlap with basking hours – 9 to 11 am |
| Survey Tools Used | Visual counts, habitat profiling, behavioural markers |
⚠️ Risk & Conflict Mitigation
- Creation of Emergency Response Teams in hotspot districts
- Infrastructure: fencing, signage, designated washing/bathing zones
- Behavioural outreach: awareness programs, wildlife camps
- Restrict access to basking & nesting areas
- Enhance early-warning systems using river-based alerts
🐊 Government Initiatives
| Allocation | Details |
|---|---|
| ₹2.5 crore | For Crocodile Conservation Centre at Anaikarai |
| ₹6.5 lakh | Spent on research and population mapping |
| ₹1 lakh | On awareness drives and local outreach |
| Alternate Site | Identified due to land availability issues |
🌳 GS Mains Mapping
- GS Paper 3: Biodiversity Conservation, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Environmental Governance
- Prelims: Species Protection under WPA 1972 | Crocodile Breeding Centres
💭 A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk
Every ripple tells a tale, and every silence holds a guardian. To protect the mugger is to read the river rightly.
🌿 Closing Whisper
If the crocodile is ancient memory, then our coexistence must be a new song.
