Baripada: Ramatirtha crocodile breeding centre inside the famous Similipal sanctuary in Mayurbhanj district is wallowing in neglect due to government apathy with the number of crocodiles witnessing a sharp fall.
According to reports, the government had set up the breeding centre of rare mugger crocodiles in 1979 so as to attract more tourists. Sadly, the purpose for which it was set up seems to have been defeated.
Similipal is one of the major tourist draws in the state. Ramatirtha inside the sanctuary is believed to have mythological significance. Just three km away from National Highway-49, the site is considered an ecotourism spot.
When the crocodile breeding programme was launched, 24 baby muggers were brought from Chennai. In 1984, the reptiles started laying eggs. Some eggs were left to hatch naturally while some were artificially incubated and hatched. Gradually the number of crocodiles mounted to 60 at the centre. The hatchlings were released into rivers, streams and creeks in Similipal.
A few years ago, two adult male and two female crocodiles were sent to Bhubaneswar-based Nandankanan Zoological Park from the centre.
But over the years, the number of crocodiles has come down to eight now while artificial hatching of eggs has been a remote possibility since December 2016 after the retirement of a crocodile expert.
Usually, these reptiles lay eggs in March every year. It takes at least 75 to 90 days for the eggs to hatch. Eggs hatch either in the end of May or the first week of June.
In 2014, the crocodiles had laid 22 eggs, but only two hatched naturally while the remaining eggs were damaged.
However, not even a single crocodile laid eggs at the centre in 2015 and 2016.
Crocodiles were the main tourist attraction at Ramatirtha inside sanctuary spreading across 2,750 sq km. Ramatirtha is in close proximity of the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR). Tourists have provision of air-conditioned cottages built with ethnic tribal style for night accommodation to enjoy the ethereal beauty of the sanctuary.
Legend has it that Lord Ramachandra, his wife Devi Sita and brother Laxman had taken rest for quite some days at the site during their 14-year exile. River Bhandan meandering on the rocky course in the deep forest adds to the charm of this place.
In the absence of a bridge across the river, tourists face a lot of difficulty to visit the Ramatirtha temple.
Tourist footfall has reduced over the years due to decrease in the crocodile population at the breeding centre. Filed director of STR, Harish Kumar Bist explained that crocodile hatchlings have been released into rivers from the breeding centre. The number of crocodiles in the river systems is stable but its number has reduced at the centre as breeding has been stopped, he added. PNN
