Maharashtra: Mangrove Cell starts crocodile safari in Ratnagiri

Crocodile. Pic/Vandan Zhaveri

There is good news for crocodile lovers as one can go spotting crocodiles on a boat ride at the Vashishti river. A crocodile safari has been started in Kongaon at Khed in Ratnagiri by Mangrove Cell and Songaon Ecotourism- a community-based conservation initiative and livelihood generation program.

Virendra Tiwari, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Mangrove Cell), Government of Maharashtra said, "The crocodile safari started by Maharashtra Forest department and Songaon Ecotourism is a part of community-based conservation initiative and livelihood generation program taken up by Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation of Maharashtra Forest Department for the upliftment of local communities and promotion of mangrove and marine biodiversity conservation and Songaon Ecotourism aims at sustainable tourism."

Songaon is a village in Khed taluka of Ratnagiri district. Under the Mangrove Conservation and Livelihood Generation Scheme, various projects like Cage culture, ornamental fish culture, oyster and mussel culture, ecotourism, etc are implemented at village levels. 90 per cent subsidy is given by the government and 10 per cent is the share given by beneficiaries.

The crocodile safari takes place between 7.30 am to 6.00 pm (depending on low tide - Crocodiles are largely visible during low tides). For those who want to visit the place, a homestay facility at affordable rates is also in place along with the arrangement of local food.

Range Forest Officer(RFO) Rajendra Patil, Mangrove Cell, Ratnagiri said, "As a part of our activities we have Crocodile Safari boat ride (Rs.1600 /- for 2 hours) along with Mangrove Safar, Bird identification and star gazing. We are expecting that the crocodile safari will get a good response from the wildlife lovers."

According to FORREST - Forest Regeneration and Environmental Sustainability Trust, "Vashishthi River is one of the largest rivers of the Konkan coast. The main part of the Vashishthi basin falls in the Ratnagiri district and covers an area of 2233 sq. kms, in the blocks of Guhagar, Dapoli, Khed and Chiplun. Vashishthi River flowing from Chiplun merges into the sea at Dabhol. There is a creek at a village Maldoli called as Maldoli creek."

According to a recent study conducted by the Maharashtra Mangrove Cell and Pune-based non-government organisation (NGO) Ela Foundation, among the 10 areas monitored for otters and crocodiles, the highest number of otter individuals were spotted across the Jaitapur creek area (418 along Arjuna River and 356 Gad and Vashishthi River). Similarly, the highest number of crocodiles were also recorded across Jaitapur (107 in the Gad and Vashishthi Rivers).

Visitors enjoying a boat ride. Pic/Kranti Minde

Carried out between April 2019 and July 2021, the survey to document both species was done across rivers, creeks, backwaters and irrigation tanks using camera-trap technology, river-boat, under-bridge, modified scent-station surveys and local information, to determine the status of otters and crocodiles in this region, their food and habitat preferences. Sites were mapped with GPS coordinates for all creeks. The data was published as a part of a research paper and a report recently - Survey of Otter and Crocodile Species in Mangrove Habitats of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.

The population of the Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), which is protected as an endangered species under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is classified as 'vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), was estimated to be 1,435 individuals and 245 Marsh crocodiles across all 10 rivers, creeks, and irrigation tanks in Maharashtra.

About the species

The Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus Palustris) also called the Marsh crocodile, is native to the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan, and some parts of Iran. It is most commonly found in freshwater environments such as rivers, lakes, hill streams, village ponds and human-made reservoirs.

At one point, Mugger crocodiles used to be widespread throughout the subcontinent but over time, their populations have dwindled due to habitat destruction, hunting, loss of prey base, human encroachment, and increasing conflict situations.