On the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, 100 baby crocodiles were released in Sundarbans’ area.
The Sundarbans, a large forest on the Bay of Bengal’s coast, is one of the world’s natural marvels. This unique forest is situated in Bangladesh (60%) and India (40%). Bangladesh’s Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, and Barguna districts are located in the delta region of the Padma, Meghna, and Brahmaputra River basins.
Recently (December 25, 2021), to honor the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hundred crocodiles were released in four different places of Sundarbans Forest. Habibun Nahar Talukder, Deputy Minister of Forests, Environment and Climate Change, Bangladesh, officially released some crocodiles in the river in front of Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center in Chandpai Range of Sundarbans East Forest Division at noon of (December 25, 2021. Later, another 40 crocodiles were released into the river gradually.
Among the 60 crocodiles, 20 were released in the Satkhira area of the Sundarbans West Forest Division, 20 in Khulna, and 20 in the Sharankhola Range area.
The released crocodiles are about two years old. These crocodiles were born at Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center in Chandpai Range, weighing between 8-20 kg. Crocodiles are bred at Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center to prevent extinction.
Muhammad Belayet Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the East Sundarbans Division in Bagerhat, said, “There are 375 species of wildlife in the Sundarbans, a World Heritage Site. Already, two species of deer, two species of rhinoceros, one species of wild buffalo and one species of freshwater crocodile have become extinct in this mangrove forest.
Saltwater crocodiles are also endangered in the Sundarbans. We have taken various initiatives to keep this species of crocodile alive. Even before this, various extinct species of animals, including saltwater crocodiles, have released in the Sundarbans at different times.”
There are 150-200 saltwater crocodile species in the Sundarbans, which is not enough for 1874 sq km of the watershed, including 450 rivers and canals of Sundarbans.
