Kukrail Reserve Forest
Encyclopedia
Kukrail Reserve Forest is located about 9 km from Lucknow
, Uttar Pradesh
.
, Suheli, Girwa and Chambal
rivers. The female crocodile lays eggs in April by digging holes on the river banks. The young crocodiles hatch in a period of 60 to 80 days.
The idea of setting up a breeding center for the endangered Crocodile species came after a study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, UNO in 1975 which estimated that there were only 300 crocodile left in the open rivers of Uttar Pradesh.
Center at Kukrail came up in the year 1978, which was funded by the Uttar Pradesh forest department in collaboration Ministry of Environment and Forests
India. This effort marked the beginning of state government's efforts towards conservation of crocodiles at a time when only 300 of them had been left.
This program has contributed to the rapid improvement in the gharial's status not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh
and Rajasthan
. In fact, the captive-breeding program for gharial
is one of the two such successful wildlife conservation programs in the country.
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
.
Brief history
In Uttar Pradesh, crocodiles are found in the RamgangaRamganga
Ramganga West river originates from Doodhatoli ranges in the district of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand state of India. The river Ramganga flows to south west from Kumaun Himalaya. It is a tributary of the river Ganges, originates from the high altitude zone of 800m-900m. Ramganga flows by the Corbett...
, Suheli, Girwa and Chambal
Chambal River
The Chambal River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India, and forms part of the greater Gangetic drainage system. The river flows north-northeast through Madhya Pradesh, running for a time through Rajasthan, then forming the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before turning...
rivers. The female crocodile lays eggs in April by digging holes on the river banks. The young crocodiles hatch in a period of 60 to 80 days.
The idea of setting up a breeding center for the endangered Crocodile species came after a study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, UNO in 1975 which estimated that there were only 300 crocodile left in the open rivers of Uttar Pradesh.
Center at Kukrail came up in the year 1978, which was funded by the Uttar Pradesh forest department in collaboration Ministry of Environment and Forests
Ministry of Environment and Forests
The Ministry of Environment and Forests is an Indian government ministry. The Minister of Environment and Forests holds cabinet rank as a member of the Council of Ministers...
India. This effort marked the beginning of state government's efforts towards conservation of crocodiles at a time when only 300 of them had been left.
Conservation efforts
Apart from breeding crocodiles in the park, Crocodile eggs are also collected from the amganga, Suheli, Girwa and Chambal river banks. When young crocodiles come out of these eggs after artificial hatching at the center, they are fed and looked after till they become capable of defending themselves against other predators. The young crocodiles are then released into the waters of Chambal, River Sharda, Ghaghra, Girwa, Ramganga and Ganges rivers.This program has contributed to the rapid improvement in the gharial's status not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
and Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. In fact, the captive-breeding program for gharial
Gharial
The gharial , , also called Indian gavial or gavial, is the only surviving member of the once well-represented family Gavialidae, a long-established group of crocodilians with long, slender snouts...
is one of the two such successful wildlife conservation programs in the country.