CHITWAN, Dec 14: The lack of potent male crocodiles in the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Kasara in Chitwan district has been a cause of concern for the officials at the centre for it would lead to zero reproduction of hatchlings.
There is only an old male crocodile here, aged 42 years. It has ceased engaging in reproductive activities due to which as many as 300 eggs laid by female crocodiles in last April could not be hatched, said Chitwan National Park's assistant conservation officer Bed Bahadur Khadka.
The eggs collected from various river banks are hatched at this Centre which has a total of 656 crocodiles at present and has set free around 1,600 hatchlings in various rivers so far, according to the Chitwan National Park.
Chitwan National Park collects 259 crocodile eggs
Although normally male crocodiles are found to be actively engaging in reproductive activities till 50 years, the 42-year-old only male crocodile at the centre did not help hatch any eggs this breeding season, according to Khadka. Crocodiles have an average lifespan of 60-70 years as humans.
Khadka is worried that all the eggs at the centre would go in vain if the centre could not timely arrange a potent male crocodile for hatching the eggs. "The only male crocodile at the centre could be suffering from sperm related issues given his old age," opined Khadka, adding that there were not any veterinary doctors in Nepal to study and examine crocodile's sperm.
The park had already brought the issue to the notice of the authorities concerned last July. Preparations were made to bring a male crocodile of reproductive age from Bardiya National Park, informed Haribhadra Acharya of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Acharya said that they could bring an adult male crocodile from India as well but the current situation was not favourable for the same due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Altogether five male crocodiles were reported in the Rapti River and the Narayani River, they could not be trapped and used for reproductive purposes as those reptiles were yet to reach their reproductive age, added Assistant Conservation officer Khadka.
