One hundred crocodiles kept at the crocodile breeding center in Kasara of Chitwan National Park are being prepared to be released into the crocodile river. A few days ago, 10 crocodiles were released in the Rapti river. According to Saroj Mani Poudel, Assistant Conservation Officer of Crocodile Breeding Center, crocodiles are being prepared to be released into the river in this fiscal year.
There are currently 850 crocodiles in the breeding center. Four to five-year-old crocodiles will be released. No crocodile was released in the river last year. As the number of crocodiles in the breeding center is increasing, it has become very costly, which is why around 100 crocodiles will be released this year.
According to Haribhadra Acharya, chief conservation officer of the park, discussions are underway to release crocodiles in the lower parts of Rapti, Narayani, and Riu. In recent years, crocodiles have been released only in the Rapti river. So far, 1,585 crocodiles have been released in various rivers.
Crocodiles are usually released in Rapti, Narayani, Kaligandaki, Saptakoshi, Kamala, and Babai rivers. After the establishment of the breeding center in 1978, crocodile babies have been raised and released into the wild since 1981. Although a large number of crocs have been released, the number has not increased in the river.
Crocodiles released in Nepal's rivers reach India with the flowing water. As a result of the structure of Gandak Barrage, crocodiles can go to India but cannot return. Due to this, crocodiles raised in Nepal are left in the rivers in India. With the increasing pollution of the river, the conservation of the endangered crocodile is facing more and more challenges. Every year, crocodile eggs are collected from the river banks and raised in the breeding center. The crocodiles are then released into the river after they have grown.
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