SUMMARY OF DISTRIBUTION OF SALTWATER CROCODILES
Countries where present
Australia,
Bangladesh, Brunei, Myanmar, Timor Leste (East Timor), India (incl.
Andaman & Nicobar islands), Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, Papua New
Guinea (incl. Bismarck archipelago and other island chains),
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands
Current presence unconfirmed
Cambodia, Singapore, Vanuatu
Countries where extirpated
China
(historical presence unconfirmed), Seychelles (extirpated by late
1810s), Thailand (extirpated by early 1970s, only itinerants remain),
Vietnam (likely extirpated by 1970s)
India
Saltwater
crocodiles were historically present throughout coastal eastern India
and even along the west coast as far north as Kochi in Kerala state. The
species disappeared from the majority of these locations by the 1930s
with the last record of resident saltwater crocodiles south of Orissa
state coming from Tamil Nadu state in 1935 within habitat that has since
been eliminated. Today the species is only found within two mainland
locations (Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa, and the Sundarbans in
West Bengal) and one island territory (the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.)
Given the high level of human population pressure and habitat
destruction it is unlikely the species will ever be reestablished
outside of these remaining areas (Singh and Kar 2006).
Saltwater crocodiles are widely distributed in varying densities throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. On North Andaman crocodiles are known to exist within the Austin Strait including within waterways on both Anderson and Interview Island. The species is also present within Coffrie Bay, Congo Bay, Bada Dera and various other coastal locations. A population was once present within a freshwater wetland on North Reef Island, but following the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami of 2004 the swamp dried up and the land became elevated, resulting in the disappearance of crocodiles from the island. Sightings of crocodile tracks on Landfall Island in the far north suggest that the species is also present there. On Middle Andaman crocodiles are known from a number of areas including the Homfray Strait, Baratang Island, Flat Island, Robert's Bay, Louis Inlet, and other locations, particularly along the western coast. The Jarawa Tribal Reserve, which is comprised of portions of both Middle and South Andaman, is home to a large population of crocodiles. Major Jawara Tribal Reserve locations include Constance Bay, Port Campbell and Dumlachorag. Other South Andaman locations include the Wandoor Marine National Park, Rutland Island, South Cinque Island, and the southern coasts of the Boat and Redskin Islands (Manish Chandi pers. comm.).
Ritchies Archipelago lies to the immediate southeast of Middle Andaman and is also home to breeding crocodile populations. The species is known from Outram Island, the John and Henry Lawrence Islands and from at least two waterways on Havelock Island. On Little Andaman, the southernmost of the Andaman Islands, crocodiles are present in almost all areas holding suitable habitat, particularly along the south and west coasts. Important east coast locations include Butler Bay Creek and the Chemale River (Manish Chandi pers. comm.). Human-crocodile conflict within Hut Bay, along the east coast, has been analyzed in recent years (Whitaker 2008).
The Nicobar Islands, which lie to the south of the Andaman Islands, also hold populations of saltwater crocodiles. Crocodiles are known to exist within Central Nicobar including the islands of Tillanchong, Kamorta, Nancowry, Trinket, and Katchal. Both Little Nicobar and Great Nicobar Island hold populations of the species. On Great Nicobar the species is present in all areas holding suitable habitat excluding the human-populated region south of Campbell Bay along the east coast. In recent years crocodile poaching has become an issue on Great Nicobar (Manish Chandipers. comm.).
Within the Orissa state of eastern India saltwater crocodiles persist only within Bhitarkanika National Park and adjacent waterways within Kendrapara District (Nikhil Whitaker pers. comm.). A 2012 crocodile census of the national park yielded sightings of 1,646 individuals, making the population easily the largest within India. Human-crocodile conflict has become an issue in recent years with dozens of human fatalities reported within the past decade.
Saltwater crocodiles persist in small numbers only within the Sundarbans portion of West Bengal. Population size estimates are not available, but surveys are being planned for the future. It is believed that the population is very small despite the large amount of available habitat (Rom Whitakerpers. comm.).
Saltwater crocodiles are widely distributed in varying densities throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. On North Andaman crocodiles are known to exist within the Austin Strait including within waterways on both Anderson and Interview Island. The species is also present within Coffrie Bay, Congo Bay, Bada Dera and various other coastal locations. A population was once present within a freshwater wetland on North Reef Island, but following the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami of 2004 the swamp dried up and the land became elevated, resulting in the disappearance of crocodiles from the island. Sightings of crocodile tracks on Landfall Island in the far north suggest that the species is also present there. On Middle Andaman crocodiles are known from a number of areas including the Homfray Strait, Baratang Island, Flat Island, Robert's Bay, Louis Inlet, and other locations, particularly along the western coast. The Jarawa Tribal Reserve, which is comprised of portions of both Middle and South Andaman, is home to a large population of crocodiles. Major Jawara Tribal Reserve locations include Constance Bay, Port Campbell and Dumlachorag. Other South Andaman locations include the Wandoor Marine National Park, Rutland Island, South Cinque Island, and the southern coasts of the Boat and Redskin Islands (Manish Chandi pers. comm.).
Ritchies Archipelago lies to the immediate southeast of Middle Andaman and is also home to breeding crocodile populations. The species is known from Outram Island, the John and Henry Lawrence Islands and from at least two waterways on Havelock Island. On Little Andaman, the southernmost of the Andaman Islands, crocodiles are present in almost all areas holding suitable habitat, particularly along the south and west coasts. Important east coast locations include Butler Bay Creek and the Chemale River (Manish Chandi pers. comm.). Human-crocodile conflict within Hut Bay, along the east coast, has been analyzed in recent years (Whitaker 2008).
The Nicobar Islands, which lie to the south of the Andaman Islands, also hold populations of saltwater crocodiles. Crocodiles are known to exist within Central Nicobar including the islands of Tillanchong, Kamorta, Nancowry, Trinket, and Katchal. Both Little Nicobar and Great Nicobar Island hold populations of the species. On Great Nicobar the species is present in all areas holding suitable habitat excluding the human-populated region south of Campbell Bay along the east coast. In recent years crocodile poaching has become an issue on Great Nicobar (Manish Chandipers. comm.).
Within the Orissa state of eastern India saltwater crocodiles persist only within Bhitarkanika National Park and adjacent waterways within Kendrapara District (Nikhil Whitaker pers. comm.). A 2012 crocodile census of the national park yielded sightings of 1,646 individuals, making the population easily the largest within India. Human-crocodile conflict has become an issue in recent years with dozens of human fatalities reported within the past decade.
Saltwater crocodiles persist in small numbers only within the Sundarbans portion of West Bengal. Population size estimates are not available, but surveys are being planned for the future. It is believed that the population is very small despite the large amount of available habitat (Rom Whitakerpers. comm.).
No comments:
Post a Comment