Master Planning of Zoos - Central Zoo Authority

Proceedings of
Training Programme
Master Planning
of Zoos
Past and Present Conservation Breeding
Programmes undertaken by Zoos in India
Crocodile Species (Gharial, Mugger & Estuarine crocodile)
§ The first ever programme for conservation breeding of species in India was that
of the crocodile species, whose population in the wild had nosedived to only
few individuals. Dr. H.R. Bustard, a FAO expert on crocodiles, on the invitation
by the Government of India, initiated the programme 1975 at Tikerpada in
Satkoshia Gorge sanctuary (Orissa).
§ The Project funded a gharial breeding complex in the Nandankanan Zoological
Park in Orissa.
§ The Zoo had three adult gharials, but the male suffered repeated penile prolapse,
and it was decided to obtain a large male from Frankfurt Zoo in (then) West
Germany rather than capture one from the wild in India. This male reached
Nandankanan and despite never having seen another gharial since a baby, mated
with the Oriyan females. Thus the world’s first captive-breeding of the gharial
took place.
§ The Crocodile Conservation Project has seen the creation of first few wetland
sanctuaries of the country under the provision of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972.
§ One of the most striking features of the Crocodile Conservation Project has been
the building up of a base for wildlife research in the country.
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