Bangladesh
Crocodile Conservation Three crocodiles released in the Sundarbans to mark Bangabandhu's birth centenary
Dhaka, December 21: Three crocodiles have been released in the Sundarbans on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The crocodiles were released at noon on Sunday (December 20) in the Harbaria canal of the Pashur River.
Hawladar Azad Kabir, officer-in-charge of Karamjal Tourism and Wildlife Breeding Center in the Sundarbans, told the media.
Crocodiles have been bred for a long time at the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center. In order to increase the number of crocodiles in nature, baby crocodiles are also released into rivers and canals inside the forest at different times. On the occasion of Bangabandhu's birth centenary, 90 crocodiles are to be released step by step. According to him, the officials of the forest department are continuously releasing the baby crocodiles. A total of six crocodiles were released in two steps.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Dr. Md. Billal Hossain, Joint Secretary Md. A Razzak, Deputy Secretary ASM Ferdous, Forest Conservator Moinuddin Khan, Sundarbans East Forest Department Forest Officer Muhammad Belayet Hossain and others were present at the occasion.
Hawladar Azad Kabir further said that crocodile release in rivers and canals of Sundarbans has been hampered due to coronavirus. A crocodile breeding center was set up in Karamjal in 2002 for the breeding and reproduction of endangered saltwater species.
After releasing 6 crocodiles in two steps, there are still 179 small and big crocodiles in the breeding center. Earlier on November 15, three crocodiles were released in the same area of the Sundarbans.
