• It is native to freshwater habitats from south-eastern Iran to the Indian subcontinent.
• The crocodiles are poikilothermic reptiles and mugger crocodiles need to burrow deep to protect from ambient temperature changes.

What makes them important?

• Mugger crocodiles are categorized as “Vulnerable” .
• Sensitive to environmental changes and can be tagged as indicator species.

Threats

• Destruction of natural ecosystem.
• They are entangled in fisherman nets.
• Human-wildlife conflicts are another major challenge.

Conservation Efforts

• Ramatirtha Mugger Crocodile Breeding Centre beneath Similipal National Park.
• Crocodile Conservation Project launched by Government of India in 1975.

Do You Know?

• Odisha is the only State to host the wild populations of all three native species — gharial, saltwater crocodile and mugger.

Source: The Indian Express