SANGHAR/KARACHI:
Owing to its unattractive appearance and formidable body, people often feel uneasy around crocodiles and tend to keep their distance. But they are not as dangerous as they appear!
There is no official survey on the total population of crocodiles in Sindh. Their presence is quite noticeable in certain areas, including Deh Akro (Hub Dam) and Nara Canal (Sukkur).
On February 28, in a remote area of Sanghar district, a local resident, Ajmal Das, spotted a suspicious object in a water canal. Believing it to be a fish, he attempted to catch it. To his surprise, it turned out to be the body of a marsh crocodile, which, according to his statement, had already begun to decompose and was emitting a foul odor.
He reported the discovery to local officials from the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD), who promptly arrived at the scene and took possession of the body.
“It was already dead when we reached the spot,” said Asad Marri, the district SWD official, while speaking to The Express Tribune. “After a thorough examination, it was immediately buried, as decomposition had already set in,” he added.
According to officials, the area is not a natural habitat for crocodiles, though they are occasionally spotted in water canals. There have been no reports of crocodile attacks in the region.
“No one has confirmed seeing live crocodiles in the same area where this body was found,” Marri stated.
Interestingly, about two weeks earlier, Marri and his team had spotted another crocodile carcass approximately 30 kilometers from the present location. He suspected it might have been the same body. “The water current was too strong for us to retrieve it at the time,” he explained.
As per the information from the wildlife experts, there are roughly 26 species of crocodiles worldwide, but in Pakistan, the marsh crocodile is the most commonly found, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan.
The marsh crocodile’s body is not considered valuable in the leather industry, unlike the Nile and Saltwater crocodiles, which are prized for their durable and high-quality leather.
The marsh crocodile is known to be relatively inactive and is classified as an ambush predator. It can survive for up to six months without food. “It does not attack humans. It’s a ‘darvish’ [a harmless being],” commented SWD’s provincial head, Javed Ahmed Mahar. “It has gained an undeserved reputation due to its unattractive appearance, but it is not as dangerous as people believe.”
“It is not an active hunter and prefers stagnant waters, such as backwaters, rather than flowing rivers,” he added.
Crocodiles are considered scavengers and are often seen basking near water bodies.
“There is no demand for crocodile meat in Pakistan,” Mahar said in response to a question about whether its meat is sold in markets. “Most people lack accurate knowledge about wildlife and often spread unverified information.” Under Section 21 of the Sindh Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation, and Management Act 2020, crocodiles are a protected species.
Many animals are considered ‘associates’ in the ecosystem, such as crocodiles and Indus blind dolphins. According to Mahar, crocodiles do not prey on these dolphins. “Dolphins inhabit flowing water, whereas crocodiles lack the energy to chase them,” he explained.
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