Bhubaneswar: Sweta, a rare white crocodile housed at a small breeding centre in Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, has reportedly spent the past seven years in isolation, triggering demands from environmentalists and local residents for her release into a river.
Born and raised in captivity, Sweta has watched other crocodiles that grew up alongside her being released into the wild, while she continues to live in a restricted enclosure. Although she attracts thousands of tourists from India and abroad, concerns are growing over her prolonged isolation and long-term welfare.
The debate over Sweta’s future has also revived memories of Gori, another white crocodile born in 1975, who has spent 51 years in an enclosed waterbody. An attempt to introduce a male crocodile for breeding reportedly ended in an attack in which Gori killed her companion and lost one of her eyes. Neither Gori nor Malli, another white crocodile, has reproduced so far.
Environmentalists fear that Sweta could face a similar future unless the forest department takes appropriate measures to improve her living conditions and explore the possibility of breeding.
“A large enclosure similar to Gori’s should be built for Sweta, with the forest department taking steps to facilitate artificial breeding if she is to remain in captivity. She should be housed separately, like Gori and Malli, to support her well-being and future breeding prospects. Alternatively, Sweta should be released into the river, which could benefit her and help conserve white crocodiles in the future,” elderly resident Gobardhan Pradhan told reporters.
However, releasing a captive-bred crocodile into the wild would require an assessment of her ability to survive in a natural habitat.
Rajnagar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Varadaraj Gaonkar reportedly said Sweta’s health was good and stable and that a decision on her future would be taken soon, keeping her best interests in mind. He added that releasing her into the river was among the options under consideration.
Bhitarkanika has recorded an increase in its saltwater crocodile population, which has reached 1,858. However, the failure of Gori, Malli and Sweta to reproduce has raised concerns about the welfare and conservation prospects of these rare white crocodiles.
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