Informatics Publishing Limited

H. R. Bustard , B. C. Choudhury

Abstract

A permanent marking method is described to identify crocodiles being rehabilitated back into the Wild. The method involves mutilation marking-clipping the enlarged dorsal scales (scutes) on the tail. This method is simple, requiring no specialised equipment and it is easy to identify released crocodiles in the field using binoculars. A noted advantage is that the crocodilian does not need to be recaptured for positive identification to be made if it is a released crocodilian. This method has now had more than 4 years of continuous field testing in India and subordinate personnel are able to participate freely in recording sightings.

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S. K. Kar , H. R. Bustard

Abstract

no abstract

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H. R. Bustard , L. A. K. Singh

Abstract

A basking gharial Gavialis gangeticus (Gmelin), often leaven at the basking site, impressions of the single row tail scutes of the ventral region. The growth of these scutes (SC) bear a linear relationship to the growth of the total body length (TBL). TBL=53.658+62.733 (SC). This statistic, with fair degrees of accuracy, has been proved with four wild gharials and three captive gharials ranging from 1.4 to 5.4 m in total length. It is presumed that a similar relationship exists for other crocodilian species too. This method of size estimation from the tail scute spoor can be safely used for census and movement studies.

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Lala A. K. Singh , H. R. Bustard

Abstract

Breeding female crocodiles often exhibit socio-maternal behaviours like nest-guarding, breaking the unhatched eggs between the jaws, carrying the hatchlings to the water and protecting them from predators and other crocodiles. A twelve feet long female gbarial, Gavialis gangelieus (Gmelin), inhabiting the Satkoshia Gorge of River Mahanadi, Orissa had laid 25 eggs in April 75, which were transferred for hatchery incubation, restoring the neat to its original. Daily records on the post laying behaviour of the female showed that it returned to the nest eleven times during the incubation period. Visits were most frequent during the period when hatching would normally be expected. These later movements were presumably for releaoillg the hatchlings from the nest. It seems unlikely that gharials exhibit other aspects of maternal behaviour involving direct handling of hatchlings and unhatched eggs because the jaw structure is not suitable and the location of the eyes make this extremely difficult, if not impossible.

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