Mugger Crocodile
Context
An expert committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has concluded that the banned pesticide Aldrin was responsible for the deaths of several mugger crocodiles in the Chandraloi River of Rajasthan’s Kota district.
- The Chandraloi (also known as Chandralohi) River is a small perennial river and a right-bank tributary of the Chambal River. It flows entirely within Kota district, Rajasthan.
About Aldrin
- Aldrin is a highly toxic synthetic organochlorine insecticide that was once extensively used in agriculture before being prohibited.
- It is classified as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) because it is non-biodegradable and remains in the environment for long periods.
- Due to its low water solubility and high fat solubility, Aldrin accumulates in the tissues of living organisms (bioaccumulation) and becomes increasingly concentrated at higher levels of the food chain (biomagnification).
- India prohibited the manufacture, import, and use of Aldrin during the 1990s under the Insecticides Act, 1968. Subsequently, the Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, 2018 were introduced to regulate POPs listed under the Stockholm Convention.
Mugger Crocodile
- Commonly known as the marsh crocodile, the mugger is a medium-sized, broad-snouted freshwater crocodilian and an apex predator in freshwater ecosystems.
- Unlike most crocodilian species, it excavates mud-bank burrows, which provide shelter and help regulate body temperature during extreme weather conditions.
Distribution
- The species inhabits rivers, lakes, marshes, reservoirs, and artificial ponds across the Indian subcontinent.
- Its largest population occurs in India, with smaller populations found in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Iran.
- Juveniles primarily feed on insects and small fish.
- Adults prey on fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals, depending on availability.
Ecological Importance
- The mugger crocodile is considered a keystone species because it regulates prey populations, scavenges carcasses, and contributes to nutrient cycling, thereby maintaining the ecological balance of freshwater ecosystems.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I