INTRODUCTION
The Similipal hills form one of the most rich watershed areas of the Orissa State. The major perennial river systems constitute river Budhabalanga in the North; Khadkei, Khairi and Bhandan in the north-west; West Deo in the south-west; Salandi in the south, and East Deo and Sanjo in the east. Results of a survey conducted in November - December 1979 indicated that the mugger had virtually become extinct in the Similipal Tiger Reserve area. The exact reasons for the extinction of muggers from Similipal were not clear. However, information are there about the adverse factors like (i) fishing by using explosives and nylon nets, (ii) use of DDT and other insecticides with an intention to control malaria, (iii) fire in the river banks that formed nesting sites, and (iv) natural effects of activities such as predation and/or exhuming a nest by wild boar and monitor lizards.
THE BEGINNING : 1979
The Mugger Management Project in Similipal was started in 1979 at Ramatirtha near Jashipur (National Highway No. 6 ) under administration of Similipal Tiger Reserve.
The Purposes of the project were to rebuild viable populations of mugger in Similipal, conduct management-oriented research, if necessary provide muggers for restocking elsewhere, and when feasible resort to sustainable utilisation of the crocodile resource.
The Project ran in Collaboration with the U.N.D.P. (United Nations Development Programme) for financial assistance and the F.A.O. (Food and Agriculture Organisation) of the United Nations for technical guidance through Government of India's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation later the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The project was implemented and partially funded by the State Government of Orissa. After the UNDP/FAO collaboration ended in 1982, the funding has been entirely from the State Government occasionally with assistance from Government of India.
The initial stock 115 young muggers were brought during 1979-1983 from Tamilnadu. Six of these were retained for captive breeding and the survivors were released inside Similipal.
The management procedure called "The Grow and Release Technique" involved the collection of eggs (initially from nature and later from captive breeding), incubation of eggs, rearing the young ones up to 60cm body length (2years), releasing young muggers in protected areas and monitoring the released muggers.
TOURISM POTENTIALITY
Within a setting of young sal trees, Ramatirtha has got separate hut and cottage accommodations with 36 beds. Groups of students, in-service trainees and visitors can book their accommodation ten days in advance from booking counter in Jashipur (National Highway-6). Day-time camping places have been developed at Ramatirtha besides River Khairi-Bhandan. These are being increasingly used by visitors coming in large groups to Similipal.Aim: Reduce pressure inside Similipal.
RESEARCH
Major aspects and Specific studies
- Improve captive breeding.
- Treatment with Vit-E.
- Improve survival of hatchlings:
- Comparison of
survival-efficiency and growth in rearing pens and in semiwild condition with
parents.
- Control of the time of hatching and provision of food supplements
- Improve husbandry aspects
- Develop conditions of environment- enrichment
- Understand the behaviour relevant to management in the wild:
-
Territorial resource-partitioning by breeding adults and Site-fidelity among hatchlings.
- Handle nuissance Crocodiles:
- Design and use of live-trap.
- Understand the biology
- Incubation and congenital deformities.
- Status in the wild
- Movement of released Crocodiles
- Status survey:
-Restocking efficiency
HERPETOLOGICAL LITERATURE PUBLISHED AT SIMILIPAL
Banerjee, R. (1985): Conservation and Research on Muggers (Crocodylus palustris) Lesson in Similipal. In: Conservation of Similipal in its Wilderness. Orissa Environmental Society, 1985: 72-75.
Dani,C.S., Sagar,S.R. and Singh,L.A.K.(1991): Mugger Crocodile Research at Ramatirtha: A review. Indian Forester. 117 (10): 881-891.
Prusty, B. C. and Singh, L. A. K. (1994): Status of mugger crocodile in Similipal Tiger Reserve, Orissa, India. Paper presented at Zool. Soc. of Orissa, Utkal Univ., Vani Vihar, April 1994. (Mimeo)
Rath, R. L., Singh, L. A. K. and Kar, S. K. (1990): Work plan for Crocodilian Management in Orissa, India during 1990-95. In: Crocodiles. Proceed ing of the 10th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group. IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland. Vol.2 ISBN-2-8327-0023-X,vi+345p.
Sagar, S. R.and Singh, L. A. K. (1990): Rehabilitation of mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Similipal Tiger Reserve Orissa. India. 188- 200. In: Crocodiles. Proceedings of the 10th Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group. IUCN-The World Conservation Union Gland, Switzerland.Vol.2. ISBN 2-8327-0023-X, vi+345p.
Sagar, S. R. and Singh, L. A. K. (1992): Notes on Survival efficiency and growth of hatchling mugger (Crocodylus palustris). Zoos' Print, vol.VII (3): 18-19 and 14.
Singh, L. A. K. (1989): Residual yolk and crocodilian survival. Zoos' Print. vol.IV(12): 1-2 with 3 plate.
Singh, L. A. K. (1989): A note on Vitamin-E and Gavialis gangeticus. Zoos' Print.vol. IV(12): 21.
Singh, L. A. K. (1990): Euthansia of Amphibians and reptiles: ZOO Book Review. Zoo's Print. Feb 1990:15.
Singh, L. A. K. (1990): Indian Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) Lesson (Reptilia, Crocodilia) Territorial Resource Partitioning and its Implication in Sanctuary Management. A Zoo Project under Animal Management Course, National Extension College, Cambridge, U.K.
Singh, L. A. K. (1991): Dull and difficult exhibits no longer. (Guest Editorial). Zoos' Print. vol. VI (6).
Singh, L. A. K. (1995): Congenital defects in mugger crocodile, Crocodylus palustris. Zoos' Print, July 1995: 46-47.
Singh, L. A. K. (1998): Kumbhira Sangrakhyanara Bahubidha Pratyarpana. Pragativadi, 24.8.98: 6 (in Oriya)
Singh, L. A. K. (1999): A profile of Indian Crocodiles. Envis (Wildlife and Protected Areas). Vol.2, No.1, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, June 1999. ISBN 0972-088X.: 1-4.
Singh, L. A. K. (1999): Significance and achievement of the Indian Crocodile Project. Envis (Wildlife and Protected Areas). Vol.2, No.1, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, June 1999. ISBN 0972-088X.: 10-16.
Singh, L. A. K. (1999): Status of Gharial and Mugger in Orissa. Envis (Wildlife and Protected Areas). Vol.2, No.1, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, June 1999. ISBN 0972-088X.: 17-23.
Singh, L. A. K. and D. P. Rath (1999): Bibliography. Envis (Wildlife and Protected Areas). Vol.2, No.1, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, June 1999. ISBN 0972-088X.: 10-16.
Singh, L. A. K. (2000): Interpreting visual signs of the Indian crocodile. Crocodile Specialist Group Newsletter, 19(1), January 2000-March2000:7-9pp.
Singh, L. A. K. and Kar, S. K. (1991): Results and Recommendations relating to an assessment study on feasibility of releasing five thousand captive reared mugger crocodiles in Tamil Nadu. April 1991 (Memeographed report).
Singh, L. A. K., Pati, K. C., Mohanty, B. P. and Rout, S. D. (1992): Homing behaviour of a rescued Python (Python molurus) Zoos' Print, vol. VII (3):15.
Singh, L. A. K. and Rout, S. D. (1998): Environment Enrichment conditions and their preference by hatchling mugger (Crocodylus palustris). Zoos' Print, Vol.XIII(1), January 1998:6-8, 4 figs., 1 tab.
Singh, L. A. K. and Rout, S. D. (1995): Twinning abnormality in Crocodylus palustris (Reptilia, Crocodilia). Zoos' Print, July 1995:37-38.
Singh, L. A. K. and Sagar S. R. (1990): The escape and capture of a mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) at Ramatirtha, Orissa. Indian Forester 116 (10): 847-849.
Singh, L. A. K. and Sagar, S. R. (1991): Vitamin-E for possible improvement in breeding performance of Crocodylus palustris. Zoos' Print, vol.VI(6):10-12.