Population and conservation status of Marsh Crocodiles, Crocodilus palustris in Karachi Zoological Garden, Samzu Park and Khar Center Karachi, Sindh-Pakistan.

Abstract

This study represents survey data and review the population and conservation status of the Marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), throughout various captive habitats situated in Karachi Zoological Garden (KZG), Samzu Park (SP) and Khar Center (KC) Khirthar National Park, Karachi. To achieve this objective the study monitored the distribution of crocodiles and their nests, and nest sites. In Pakistan, there is only one species of Marsh Crocodile is reported. The Crocodile population is going to decline rapidly from their original habitat and their number at the turn of the last 20th century due to over hunting for their valuable skin and meat and alteration of their habitat used by humans. In this present study we were determined the population and conservational status of Marsh crocodiles from three sites of Karachi Zoological Garden (KZG), Samzu Park (SP) and Khar Center (KC). During our observation we recorded 93 individuals, among them 61 were adults, 08 were juveniles and 24 were hatchlings. They can be ranched but unfortunately in our country the concept of sustainable utilization of wildlife is still not practiced to a large segment of the population. If any loss of this valuable species from the ecosystem it would be consider loss of biodiversity, economic prospective and steadiness of biota.