Maharashtra: Mangrove Cell starts crocodile safari in Ratnagiri

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 communitybased conservation initiative and livelihood generation programVirendra 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 communitybased 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 tourismSongaon 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 beneficiariesThe crocodile safari takes place between 730 am to 600 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 foodRange Forest OfficerRFO Rajendra Patil Mangrove Cell Ratnagiri said As a part of our activities we have Crocodile Safari boat ride Rs1600 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 loversAccording to FORREST ndash 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 creekAccording to a recent study conducted by the Maharashtra Mangrove Cell and Punebased nongovernment 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 RiversVisitors enjoying a boat ride PicKranti MindeCarried out between April 2019 and July 2021 the survey to document both species was done across rivers creeks backwaters and irrigation tanks using cameratrap technology riverboat underbridge modified scentstation 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 MaharashtraThe population of the Smoothcoated 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 1435 individuals and 245 Marsh crocodiles across all 10 rivers creeks and irrigation tanks in MaharashtraAbout the speciesThe 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 humanmade reservoirsAt 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