Ecological status and threats of marsh crocodiles (Crocodilus palustris) in Manghopir Karachi

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Ecological status and threats of marsh crocodiles (Crocodilus palustris) in Manghopir Karachi

Muhammad Saleem Chang, Ghulam Sarwar Gachal, Ayaz Hussain Qadri, Zohra Khowaja, Mumtaz Khowaja, Muhammad Yusuf Sheikh
Int. J. Biosci.3( 9), 44-54, September 2013.
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Abstract

This study represents survey data and reviews the threats and ecological status of Marsh crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) in the captive habitat of Manghopir Karachi. In Pakistan, only one crocodilian species of Marsh crocodile recorded. The present study on threats and ecological status of Marsh crocodiles was carried out from 2006 to 2009 during which 116 crocodiles were recorded from MP Karachi. The observation revealed that total number of crocodiles were 116 in the studied areas of MP Karachi among them 80 were adult crocodile, 20 were juveniles and 16 were hatchlings. The most people consider them as a serious and potentially dangerous pest and so do not regret their disappearance from their neighborhood. In Pakistan, the concept of utilization of wildlife is still anathema to a large segment of the crocodile population and they can be ranched. Currently the crocodile population is threatened by environmental deterioration, hazard chemicals in water resources, hunting pressure and loss of habitat.

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