Satellite-tagged crocodiles released in Sundarbans river

The Department of Forest here on Wednesday released two satellite-tagged saltwater crocodiles in the river Bhadra in the Sundarbans.

"Juliete", a bull (male) crocodile, collected from Karamzal Eco-Tourism Center of Sundarbans and "Modhu", a sow (female) crocodile, seized from the River Sagardari, adjacent to noted poet Michel Modhusudan Dutta’s ancestral home, in Jashore, were released in the Bhadra river, adjacent to Bhadra Patrol Post, in West Sundarbans yesterday afternoon.

Sri Lankan crocodile expert Dr. Ru-Somawari and Australian citizen Dr. Paul Beri implanted satellite transmitter devices in the crocodile.

The crocodiles were released with the finance of German-based GIZ and technical assistance of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Hawladar Azad Kabir, officer-in-charge of Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre, said, "By placing this satellite transmitter on the back of both crocodiles, the movements of the free crocodiles will be monitored. Besides, the behavior of the crocodiles which have been released in the river earlier, the survival rate in salt water and the egg-laying of the crocodiles will be known (survival rate)."

Apart from these two crocodiles, within a week three more crocodiles will be released into the forest river with satellite transmitter devices on their bodies, said Azad Kabir.