Tourists reach the center at Hata Thakurdwara, the headquarters of Bardia Park, along with jungle safari.
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The crocodile breeding center established 45 years ago in Bardiya National Park is becoming the choice of tourists. There are two species of crocodiles in the conservation center established for the protection of crocodiles namely Ghadial and Magar.
Thousands of tourists come every year to see this center. Tourists reach the center at Hata Thakurdwara, the park's headquarters, along with jungle safaris. The government is continuing its efforts to protect the endangered crocodiles by keeping a list of protected wild animals according to the Wildlife Protection Act 2029.
Once upon a time, crocodiles were found in abundance in their natural habitat in rivers like East Rapti, Narayani, West Rapti, Babai, Karnali. But due to habitat destruction and increasing human encroachment, this animal has become extinct. Therefore, the government has established crocodile breeding centers in Chitwan and Bardia 45 years ago in an effort to protect them.
The park administration has raised the crocodiles in the breeding center and released them in Babai, Karnali and Rapti rivers after they are able to live in the natural environment (after reaching 5 years). Currently, there are 4 males and 10 females of the breeding age crocodile and Ghadial species in this center. Rangilal Tharu, a game scout of the park, who is involved in crocodile protection, says that 152 clock crocodiles, including 93 small ones, are growing.
In the breeding center, crocodile eggs are produced and hatched. But Tharu said that raising this wild animal is a big challenge. A crocodile lays 30 to 40 eggs in a year. 8, 10 are wasted in that too. Eggs hatch from May to June.
More than 1.5 million rupees are spent annually on the feeding and rearing of crocodiles. The crocodiles growing here need about two kilos of small fish daily.
Sarojmani Paudel, information officer and assistant conservation officer of the park, said that the breeding center was established with the concept of crocodile breeding as well as tourism promotion. An average of 100 tourists visit here every day. According to conservationists of the park, crocodiles are dangerous and even attack humans, while gadial crocodiles do nothing.
The crocodile's natural habitat has been destroyed due to poaching, excessive exploitation of natural resources, and the use of pesticides, and the crocodile has become endangered in the world.
Madhuvan Napa-1 form Milan Tharu died when he was swimming in Khauraha river near Thakurbaba Municipality-9 Hattisar in the first crocodile attack in Bardia. Information officer Paudel said that no one was killed in the crocodile attack earlier. Hemant Acharya, chairman of the Intermediate Management Committee, said that crocodiles are scattered in the small rivers and fields of the coastal area including Babai and Karnali in Bardia.
