Crocodile Census to Be Conducted in Vishwamitri River on Feb 7

Forest Department to Carry Out Crocodile Census in Vishwamitri

A crocodile population census will be carried out in the Vishwamitri River in Vadodara on Friday, February 7, to assess the number of crocodiles living along the river stretch passing through the city. The exercise is aimed at collecting scientific data on the reptile population and habitat.

The census will be jointly conducted by the Zoology Department of Maharaja Sayajirao University and the Forest Department. Officials said the survey will cover around 25 kilometres of the river, which has been divided into 10 zones to ensure complete coverage. More than 30 trained volunteers, forest staff and members of non-governmental organisations will be involved in the operation.

The counting will be carried out in two phases. During the daytime, crocodiles spotted basking along the riverbanks will be counted through direct sightings. A night survey will also be conducted using the eye-glow method, where torchlight is used to detect reflections from crocodile eyes in the water.

In addition to numbers, data on the size and age groups of crocodiles will also be recorded. Officials said the findings will be used for future conservation planning and to manage human–wildlife interaction. Results of the census are awaited.