July 30th 2024.
In a thrilling development for animal lovers, it has been reported that Malli, a rare albino crocodile aged 29, has laid a clutch of eggs at Bhitarkanika National Park. Despite living a solitary life in a confined pond within the park, Malli has taken it upon herself to build a nest and lay eggs, displaying her strong desire for motherhood even without a male partner. However, this has also sparked concerns about the likelihood of the eggs hatching, as Malli has previously laid eggs six times without any success.
The Bhitarkanika National Park made history in 1975 when it initiated the world's first artificial crocodile breeding program, led by Australian biologist Dr HR Bustard and Indian crocodile expert Dr Sudhakar Kar. In 2003, two albino hatchlings were discovered in a nearby forest and were eventually captured by the park's staff. One of the hatchlings, a brighter one, was kept in a pen while the other was released into a creek. When the team at the breeding center saw the albino crocodile in the pen, they were ecstatic and named her Malli. With her unique white coloration, Malli has become a popular attraction among tourists, even surpassing another well-known albino crocodile named Gori. She has been living in a 50-decimal enclosed pond connected to the Bhitarkanika River, allowing her to catch fish during high tides. And now, she has made headlines once again by laying eggs on an elevated area of the pond, carefully constructing a nest with twigs and leaves.
The park officials who regularly feed Malli were taken aback by her behavior in the past week or so. She seemed to be ignoring their calls, which was unusual for her. This year, she has laid a total of 23 eggs, following previous years' numbers of 18, 24, 18, 27, and 29. Unfortunately, none of these eggs have hatched due to the absence of a male partner. This has led to concerns about Malli's ability to become a mother without a mate, and the Forest department is now considering finding her a suitable male companion to fulfill her maternal instincts. The head of the Rajnagar Wildlife Division, DFO Sudarshan Gopinath Yadav, has stated that discussions are underway with crocodile experts to find a suitable mate for Malli.
It is fascinating to see Malli's determination and drive to become a mother, even without a male partner. The fact that she has laid eggs multiple times in the past, despite them not hatching, only goes to show her strong maternal instincts. Let us all hope that this time, she is blessed with a successful hatching and can finally experience motherhood. Until then, the Forest department will continue to closely monitor Malli and provide her with the necessary care and attention.
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