47 new crocodiles at Karamjal reproduction centre

Some 47 babies were hatched out from eggs laid by female crocodiles ‘Pilpil’ and 'Juliet' at Karamjal Wildlife Reproduction Centre in the Sundarbans on Sunday.

Pilpil laid 48 eggs while Juliet 50 others in May and those were kept in an incubator to hatch under high temperature, said the in-charge of the centre Abdul Mannan.

He said 27 baby crocodiles were hatched out from the eggs of Pilpil and 20 others from that of Juliet in the morning, 85 days after they laid the eggs. However, the rest eggs were damaged for various reasons.

The young saltwater crocodiles -- 80 percent females and 20 percent males -- will be released at a pan of the centre after a 36-hour intensive care, Mannan, a crocodile expert, said.

He said apart from the two female crocodiles, there is a male crocodile, Romeo, 28, at Karamjal reproduction centre.

Divisional forest officer of the Sundarbans East M Saidul Islam said the government established the breeding centre under Chandpai range of the Sundarbans in Mongla upazila in 2002 aiming to breed and rear the endangered saltwater crocodiles. 

The centre started its journey with five saltwater crocodiles found in various canals of the world’s largest mangrove forest.

The saline water crocodiles generally lay egg in May-June in the coastal areas. And the crocodile eggs are hatched artificially to increase their fertility rate.