Reptile Rap

Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile Network

ISSN 2230-7079 No.12 | May 2011

Contents

First record of Yellow-spotted Wolf

Snake Lycodon flavomaculatus (Wall,
1907) from Chirner Forest, Uran,
Maharashtra
-- Nitin S. Walmiki, Siddhesh Karangutkar,
Aniket Jadhav, Siddharth Parab & N.S.
Achyuthan, Pp. 2–3

Sighting of Slender Coral Snake

Calliophis melanurus in Seshachalam
Hills, Eastern Ghats, India: a new
record
-- M. Bubesh Guptha & M. Rajasekhar,
Pp. 4–6

Chromogenicity in males during mating

in Indian wall lizards Hemidactylus
flaviviridis (Ruppell)
-- Ranjeeta Chatterjee, Vaishali Bansod &
K.K. Sharma, Pp. 6–8

Is it possible to create a safe habitat for

muggers of Vishwamitri River, Gujarat
State, India?
-- Raju Vyas, Pp. 9–11

Date of publication: 09 May 2011

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1  
 REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
First record of Yellow-spotted Wolf Snake days for further observation.
Lycodon flavomaculatus (Wall, 1907) from During this observation period
Chirner Forest, Uran, Maharashtra it fed on Brook’s House Gecko
Hemidactylus brookii; the
Nitin S. Walmiki 1, Siddhesh Karangutkar 2, Aniket snake was very calm, which
Jadhav 2, Siddharth Parab 3 & N.S. Achyuthan 3 is exactly opposite that of any
1,2
National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre, Lokhandawala Road, other wolf snake species. The
Andheri (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053 India  specimen was then released
3
CON (Care of Nature), Veshvi, Chirner, Uran, Maharashtra, India
Email: 1 nitinwalmiki007@gmail.com (corresponding author)
at the same spot in Chirner
Forest. The other specimen
was not in a good condition;
A rare snake species, a this was the first time that a it was found dead by the road
Yellow-spotted Wolf Snake Yellow-spotted Wolf Snake side, so only the length was
Lycodon flavomaculatus was was found in the area. measured (22cm).
reported from Chirner Forest, One specimen was male, Lycodon flavomaculatus is
Uran, Maharashtra. On 07 about 24.1cm long and a threatened species (Molur
August 2010 two specimens of weighed 12.4g. This species & Walker 1998) it is slender-
the snake were collected from of wolf snake was identified bodied, smooth scaled, with
Chirner Forest in Uran Taluka, by the scale count method a flattened head slightly
a historical place, known for (Table 1) and by external broader than the neck, a
its famous Jungle Satyagraha appearance (Image 1) as in broad snout projects beyond
movement on 25 September Maharashtra, yellow spotted lower jaw. Eye entirely black.
1930. Chirner, a protected forms of the barred wolf Glossy black above with
forest situated (18050’48.40”N snake Lycodon striatus are series of small, bright yellow
& 73003’36.14”E) around frequently mistaken for this spots along the vertebral
70km from Mumbai suburbs, species (Whitaker & Captain line. Arising from the spots is
is a semievergreen forest with 2008). The specimen was a yellow or white band that
a variety of herpetofauna, but then kept captive for two widens and becomes indistinct

Image 1. Yellow-spotted Wolf Snake Lycodon flavomaculatus

2
 REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
Table 1. Scale count of Lycodon flavomaculatus Zoo Outreach Organisation
& CBSG, India, Coimbatore,
Scale Count
India, 175pp.
Scale skin 17:17:15 rows, smooth Nande, R. & S. Deshmukh
Ventral 175 (2007). Snakes of Amravati
Anal divided sub codal 58 paired District including Melghat,
Preocular 1 Maharashtra, with important
recrd of Indian Egg Eater,
Postocular 2
Montane Triket and Indian
Temporal 2+3 Smooth Snake, Zoo’s Print
Supralabial 9 (3rd to 5th touching eye) Journal 22(12): 2920-2924.
Loreal 1 (touches internasal) Vyas R. (2000). A review of
reptile studies in Gujarat
state, Zoo’s Print Journal
15(12): 386-390.
on the sides. Lip scales are of Indian reptiles it comes
Vyas, R. & K.B. Upadhaya
white underneath (Whitaker & under VU (Vulnerable) species (2008). On the Occurrence of
Captain 2008). (Molur & Walker 1998). Lycodon flavomaculatus Wall,
This species is endemic to 1907 in Gujarat State, India.
India and has been recorded SAURIA, Berlin 30(1): 55-58.
References
from only a few places in and Whitaker, R. & A. Captain
(2008). Snakes of India - The
around the Western Ghats of D’ Abreu, E.A. (1928). Record of Field Guide Snakes of India -
Maharashtra namely, Nashik, Nagpur Museum No. VI. A list The Field Guide. Draco Books,
Pune, Mulshi, Talegaon, of reptiles of central provinces. Chennai, Xiv+481pp.
Deolali, Dharwad, Sangli, Govt. press, Nagpur, 1-13.
Buldhana and Oudh (Whitaker Khaire N. (2008). A Guide to
Acknowledgement
the Snakes of Maharashtra
& Captain 2008). D’Abreu
Goa and Karnataka. United
(1928) also mentioned a Multicolour Printer Pvt. Ltd.,
The authors want to thank the
record of this species from local people from Chirner, Raju
Pune, 80-81pp.
Mumbaikar, Raja Patil (Members
Buldhana, Maharashtra (old Molur, S. & S. Walker (eds.)
of CON), and Vinayak Puranik for
name Wall’s Wolf Snake), it (1998). Reptiles of India.
their valuable field work with us.
is also recorded from Melghat Biodiversity Conservation
The authors are grateful to Dr.
Prioritisation Project (BCPP)
region (Nande & Deshmukh Vaishali Somani & Mr. Anil Kubal
India, Endangered Species
2007) and Vadodara, Gujarat Project - Conservation
for their constant support and
State (Vyas 2000, 2008). motivation.
Assessment and Management
According to IUCN status Plan (C.A.M.P.) workshops.

3

Sighting of Slender Coral Snake Calliophis
melanurus in Seshachalam Hills, Eastern
Ghats, India: a new record
M. Bubesh Guptha 1 & M. Rajasekhar 2
1
Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box ≠.18, Chandrabani, Dehradun,
Uttarakhand 248001, India
2
Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra
Pradesh 517502, India
Email: 1 bubesh.guptha@gmail.com (corresponding author)
The family Elapidae (Boie
1827) is represented by over
60 genera and 300 known
species distributed throughout
the tropical and subtropical
regions. The snakes of this
family are further divided
into six subfamilies namely
Bungarinae, Calliophinae,
Elapinae, Hydrophiinae,
Laticaudinae and Maticorinae
(Mirza & Pal 2010). In the
oriental region the elapids
are represented by 13 genera
and 36 species (Whitaker
& Captain 2004). Oriental
coral snakes are included
in three genera namely
Calliophis, Hemibungarus
and Sinomicrurus (Slowinski
et al. 2001). Calliophis
melanurus Shaw, 1802 is
more widespread than all the
other species of the genus
occurring in peninsular India
and Sri Lanka (Daniel 2002);
Whitaker & Captain (2004)
state that it probably occurs
in most of peninsular India
(except the extreme north-
west), with definite records
from Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil
Nadu and West Bengal; there
is a single record from Dhar,
Madhya Pradesh (Vyas &
Vyas 1981) and Nallamala,
northern Andhra Pradesh
REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
(Sharma 1971; Sanyal et al.
1993).
With this background, we
report sighting Calliophis
melanurus in Andhra Pradesh
on the 17 November 2009
during our field surveys from
18 September 2009 to 25
December 2009. We found the
snake near the forest complex
close to Kapilathreetham
Temple, (13038’N & 79025’E)
Chitoor District, Andhra
Pradesh (Image 1). This
reserved forest, forming part
of the Eastern Ghats, consists
of unique flora and fauna.
The highly endangered flora
like Cycas beddomei and
highly priced endemic species
like Pterocarpus santalinus
grow luxuriantly. The entire
sanctuary is an uninhabited
20000000
Images 1. Area where Calliophis melanurus was sighted in Andhra
Pradesh
4
large chunk of dry deciduous
Red Sanders bearing forest,
forming catchments to
Swarnamukhi and Penna
rivers, both in Chittoor and
Cuddapah districts. The
area also consists of natural
grassland. The specimen
was identified based on
descriptions available in the
literature (Smith 1943; Schulz
1996; Daniel 2002; Whitaker
& Captain 2004).
Description
The Slender Coral Snake
is light brown and to some
extent speckled. Its head
and neck are black with two
prominent yellow spots on
the top of the head. A shabby
black ring is seen at both the
tail-base and tail-tip, each
scale speckled with brown
and the underside is coral red
(Image 2). This can often
be confused with Dumeril’s
Black-headed Snake which
has a pale yellow underside
and a much longer gradually
tapering tail. The underside
of Calliophis melanurus is
pinkish-red in colour (Image
3). Its head is blunt and has
Appd
20000000 40000000 Miles

Image 2. Slender Coral Snake Calliophis melanurus.
the same width as that of the
neck. The scales are smooth
and faintly glossy. Its small
eyes are entirely black.
The Slender Coral Snake
is one of five Indian coral
snakes, the other four being
hill forest species, which can
be seen in the Western Ghats
and the Eastern Himalaya.
Mostly they are seen in litters,
burrows, and under sand in
captivity areas Whitaker &
Captain (2004); mainly under
ground, under stones (Khaire
2006); and scrub forests
(Sharma 1971; Sanyal et
al. 1993). These are mainly
nocturnal snakes, but on
rare occasions they become
active in the early morning
hours of the cooler months.
Image 3. Caudal part of Calliophis everyone should realise that
melanurus.
REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
Also they are fine burrowers
in sandy soil and can lay
motionless with just their head
noticeable. In excitement,
they curl up their tails and
wave them, exhibiting the
startling underside colours,
thus taking attention away
from the head.
Status: Rare. Species and
listed as Lower Risk-Near
Threatened (Molur & Walker
1998).
With this addition the
number of snake species
known from Andhra Pradesh
reaches 41 (Sanyal et al.
1993; Daniel 2002; Whitaker
& Captain 2004; Rao et al.
2005; Srinivasulu & Das
2008).
The record of Calliophis
melanurus in Seshachalam
Hills shows our incomplete
understanding of the
distribution of fauna. We
recommend that further
studies be carried out in
the Eastern Ghats and its
surrounding areas at the
earliest possible opportunity
to confirm the presence of
Calliophis melanurus. Also
5
the protection of habitat is
an important aspect in the
conservation of such species.
Reference
Daniel, J.C. (2002). The
Book of Indian Reptiles and
Amphibians. Bombay Natural
History Society & Oxford
University Press. Mumbai,
viii+238pp.
Mirza, Z. & S. Pal (2010). Notes
on the effect of a bite from
Calliophis melanurus Shaw,
1802 (Serpents: Elapidae
Calliophinae). Reptile Rap
Newsletter of the South Asian
Reptile Network 9(January):
7–8.
Molur, S. & S. Walker (eds.)
(1998). Reptiles of India.
Biodiversity Conservation
Prioritisation Project (BCPP)
India, Endangered Species
Project - Conservation
Assessment and Management
Plan (C.A.M.P.) workshops.
Zoo Outreach Organisation
& CBSG, India, Coimbatore,
India, 175pp.
Khaire, N. (2006). Snake
of Maharashtra Goa and
Karnataka. The Field Guide,
52pp.
Rao, K.T., H.V. Ghate, A.M.
Sudhakar, S.M.M. Javed
& I.S.R. Krishna (2005).
Herpetofauna of Nallamalai
Hills with eleven new records
for the region including ten
new records for Andhra
Pradesh. Zoos’ Print Journal
20(1): 1737–1740.
Sanyal, D.P., B. Dattagupta
& N.C. Gayen (1993).
Reptilia, pp. 1–63. In: Ghosh,
A.K. (ed.). Fauna of Andhra
Pradesh—Part 1. (Reptilia,
Amphibia, Fishes). Zoological
Survey of India, Calcutta.
Schulz, K.D. (1996). A
Monograph of The Colubrid
Snakes of The Genus Elaphe
Fitzinger. Koeltz Scientific
Books, 439pp.

Sharma, R.C. (1971). The reptile
fauna of the Nagarjunasagar
Dam area (Andhra Pradesh,
India). Records of the
Zoological Survey of India
63(1–4):77–93.
Slowinkski, J.B., J. Boundy
& R. Lawson (2001). The
phylogenetic relationships of
Asian coral snakes (Elapidae:
Calliophis and Maticora)
based on morphological
and molecular characters.
Herpetologica 57(2): 233–
245.
Smith, M.A. (1943). The Fauna
of British India, Ceylon and
Burma, Including the Whole
of the Indo-Chinese Sub-
Region. Reptilia and Amphibia
- 3 (Serpentes). Today
and Tomorrow’s Printers &
Publishers, New Delhi, Indian
Reprint 1974, 583pp.
Srinivasulu, C. & I. Das
(2008). The herpetofauna
of Nallamala Hills, Eastern
Ghats, India: an annotated
checklist, with remarks on
nomenclature, taxonomy,
habitat use, adaptive types
and biogeography. Asiatic
Herpetological Research 11:
110–131. response to stimuli as well as
Vyas, T.P. & M. Vyas (1981).
A note on the Slender Coral
Snake, Callophis melanurus.
Journal of the Bombay Natural
History Society 78: 611–612.
Whitaker, R. & A. Captain
(2004). Snakes of India -
The Field Guide. Draco Books,
Chennai, xiv+481pp.
Acknowledgment
I would like to thank P.
Mallikaarjuna Rao, Chief
Conservator of Forest (CCF),
and G. Ramalingam, Divisional
Forest Officer (DFO), Wildlife
Management Circle, Tirupati
Andhra Pradesh Forest
Department.
REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
Chromogenicity in males during mating in
Indian wall lizards Hemidactylus flaviviridis
(Ruppell)
Ranjeeta Chatterjee 1, Vaishali Bansod 2 & K.K. Sharma 3
1,2
Department of Zoology, Prof. Ramkrishna More Arts, Commerce and
Science College, Akurdi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
3
Department of Zoology, Jamshedpur Co-Operative College, Jamshedpur,
Jharkhand, India
Email: 1 ranjeeta0702@rediffmail.com (corresponding author)
In lizards, chemical, The lizards, unlike
auditory and visual cues play mammals, do not mate
from the back, as it is not
key roles in courtship patterns
possible, for most lizards
(Frankenberg 1982; Cooper &
Vitt 1987). The movement- have hard, spiny scales on
based visual signals, like the back. Rather, the male
characteristic postures and lizard approaches the female
changes in body colouration from the side, biting slightly
on the neck of the female,
during mating are common
and tries to get the cloaca of
in diurnal lizards (Carpenter
& Ferguson 1977), while the female in a position as
nocturnal lizards mostly close as possible. The male
depend on vocal or chemical lizard has paired copulatory
signals for courtship (Shine organs, called hemipenes.
They are within the ventral
& Mason 2001). The reptiles
portion of the tail, covered
are well known for their ability
to change body colouration in in sheaths. A vas deferens
connects each testicle to one
for communication purposes of the hemipenes. The lizard’s
during mating (Carpenter & testicles are located inside
the body. During mating,
Ferguson 1977). The Indian
the hemipenis closer to the
Wall Lizard Hemidactylus
flaviviridis, a common lizard female becomes erected. The
found in residences has a hemipenes of many species of
light brown colour, does not lizard is adorned with thorns or
show sexual dichromatism ‘hooks’ of some kind, securing
and is reported to have a a hold during mating. The
breeding season from March sexual organs are concealed
within the cloaca in lizards
to June (Bhattacharjee 2008).
Observations on courtship (Simms 2006).
and the mating behavior of
the H. flaviviridis were done Methods
during the present study. The present study was
done on H. flaviviridis,
In the present paper, the
which were observed during
development of a distinct
colour patch on the dorsal courtship and mating. The
side of the trunk of the male observation was done at
during mating is reported. Jamshedpur, Jharkhand State,
6

India, by one of the authors.
The pair was strictly observed
in a room of the observer’s
residence for three days prior
to mating, as they started
showing prominent breeding
behaviour like running after
each other and vocal signals
were also heard. No third
lizard was allowed to enter
the room during the study
period. The mating was seen
at 1550hr on 20 April 2008.
  Image 2. The male and female
The ambient temperature of
the mating site was 32 ± 1°C,
with 62 ± 2% humidity. The
photographs were captured
by using a Canon Power shot
A-410 digital camera.
Observation and Result
During the present
observation, the male was
found to chase the female
for 2-3 hours prior to mating,
as a part of the courtship (it
was recognized as a male
later, after the pictures were
analyzed). In response, the
female showed aggressive
behaviour and tried to drive
away the male. Ultimately, the
female became receptive and
stopped fleeing and became
motionless. The male was
identified by the distinct colour
patch developed dorsally.
The mating could be divided
into three phases; pre-coital
phase, coital phase and
post-coital phase. The pre-
coital phase lasted for 15-20
minutes. During this phase,
the male started shaking its
body and the female stopped
moving. After 5min, the male
started moving gradually
towards the female. In
response, the female also
REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
Image 1. Twisted posture of the
mating pair
started shaking its tail first,
and then the anterior half of
body, i.e., the head, neck and
anterior abdominal region.
The male, on reaching the
female, started biting the
left side of the tail base and
gradually moved towards
the anterior end. When it
reached the side of the head,
it started biting the mandible
of the female and repeatedly
raised its right hind limb to
get a hold of the female, near
the tail base. Then suddenly
it jumped from the left to the
right side of the female and
took a position in a twisted
manner (Image 1).
The coital phase started
with insertion of hemipenis
into the cloaca of the female.
This phase lasted for 10-12
minutes. Both the lizards
were found to be motionless
during this phase. As the coital
phase got over, suddenly, they
untwisted with a noticeable
jerk.
At the post coital phase, the
lizards became untwisted, but
were still in close contact with
the inserted hemipenis clearly
7
lizards at post-coital phase, before
complete separation, posture
resembling shape of ‘Y’
visible to the spectator. At this
stage they appeared in the
shape of a “Y” and remained in
this posture for 10-15 seconds
(Image 2). After that, they
separated completely and the
male suddenly got aggravated
and drove away the female.
Major findings of the
present observation are:
- The most striking feature
which has not yet been reported
in the case of the Indian wall
lizard is the chromogenicity
or development of a colour
patch which was seen during
the present observation. This
colour patch developed at the
pre-coital phase in the male
lizard, and was very distinct
during the coital as well as
the post-coital phases (Image
3). The patch gradually
disappeared after 2-3 hours
of mating. The faded patch
was observed even 2 hours
after mating (Image 4).
- The patch was purplish
brown in colour and developed
on the dorsal side of the trunk
region extending from the

Image 3. The post-coital male
lizard with distinct colour patch
over body.
head to the posterior region
of the trunk.
- The male was found to
visit the site twice after the
completion of mating within
the next 5 hours, while the
female was observed trying to
escape from the male as well
as from the site after mating.
- The marks of the male’s bites
were distinct on the neck and
left side of the trunk of the
female (Image 5), at some
places, the skin was found
eroded too.
Discussion and summary
The change in colour during
courtship and mating in case
of reptiles, especially lizards
is common. The courtship
behaviour has been studied
in Calotes versicolor in detail
(Shanbhag 2003; Pandav et
al. 2007). The chromogenicity
or development of a colour
patch in the male lizard is
found to be very striking and
was not reported earlier. The
peculiar mating behaviour of
the wall lizard like the shaking
of the body in the male and
female both, as well as, the
biting behaviour of the male
during pre-coital stage is also
very uncommon. The male
REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
Image 4. Male lizard after 2 hours
of separation showing fading
patches.
Image 5. Female lizard after
separation showing eroded skin
from the male’s bites.
was found to visit the site
later, while the female was
not seen to come back to the turcicus. Copeia 770–775.
site once being driven away Pandav, B.N., B.A. Shanbhag
& K.S. Srinivas (2007).
by the male. The male was
Ethogram of courtship and
easily identified and observed mating behaviour of garden
afterwards with a faded colour lizard, Calotes versicolor.
patch. The mating behaviour Current Science 93(8): 1164–
of H. flaviviridis has not been 1167.
fully reported including its Shanbhag, B.A. (2003).
Reproductive strategies in
ethogram. This could be done
the lizard, Calotes versicolor.
after more detailed studies. Current Science 84: 646–
The chromogenicity in the 652.
male lizard could be studied Shine, R. & R.T. Mason (2001).
at biochemical as well as Courting male garter snakes
endocrinological levels too. Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
use multiple cues to identify
potential mates. Behav. Ecol.
References Sociobiol. 49: 465–473.
Simms, Alex (2006). Lizard
Bhattacharjee, R. (2008). Breeding - Courting/Mating.
Mating behavior of Indian wall EzineArticles.com.
lizard Hemidactylus flaviviridis
(Rupell), EzineArticles.com.
Acknowledgement
Carpenter, C.C. & G.W.
The authors take the
Ferguson (1977). Variation
opportunity to express their
and evolution of stereotyped
gratitude to the Principal of
behaviour in reptiles, pp.
Prof. Ramkrishna More Arts,
335–457. In: Gans, C. & D.W.
Commerce and Science College,
Tinkle (eds.). Biology of the
Akurdi, for providing the facilities.
Reptilia, Ecology and Behavior.
They are also grateful to Prof.
Academic Press, London.
K.K. Sharma of Department
Cooper, Jr. W.E. & L.J. Vitt
of Zoology of Jamshedpur Co-
(1987). Ethological isolation,
Operative College, Jamshedpur
sexual behaviour and
for his able guidance. They would
pheromones in the fasciatus
also like to thank Dr. N.S. Sen,
species group of the lizard
Reader in Department of Zoology,
genus Eumeces. Ethology 75:
Ranchi University, Ranchi for his
328–336.
motivation and support.
Frankenberg, E. (1982). Vocal
behaviour of the Mediterranean
House Gecko, Hemidactylus
8
 REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
Is it possible to create a safe habitat for the locals also signifies the
muggers of Vishwamitri River, Gujarat State, apathetic behaviour of the
India? humans.
This species is a threatened
Raju Vyas reptile in India and legally
protected under Schedule I in
505, Krishnadeep Tower, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara 2, Gujarat –
India the Indian Wildlife (Protection)
Email: razoovyas@hotmail.com Act. In the late sixties,
the species was depleted
The river Vishwamitri examples of coexistence of from its entire distribution
which flows from east to west man and animal surviving in range due to illegal hunting,
between two large rivers, pure harmony without harming fishing and habitat loss which
Narmada and Mahi, is one each other. But since the last brought muggers to the
of the non-perennial rivers few decades this harmony edge of extinction. But now,
in Gujarat State. There is a has been disturbed. A total the mugger population is
small population of Mugger or of 19 fatal attacks on human flourishing well due to the legal
Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus beings have been accounted protection and the success of
palustris) flourishing in the for by this mugger species. ex situ programmes, especially
river (Image 1). This species is The account of attacks by due to the grow and release
one of the common crocodilian both, humans and muggers practices. The Mugger is the
species in comparison to the is noticed in some sort of most adapting species found
other two crocodiles: Estuarine balance. Doubtlessly there in various types of habitats
or Salt Water Crocodile (C. are some definite and valid ranging from rivers to large
porosus) and Gharial (Gavialis reasons behind all the attacks lakes, to small puddles and
gangeticus). by muggers on humans but on village tanks and also, in road
The muggers of Vishwamitri the other hand, the numbers side ditches of many Indian
are one of the extraordinary of muggers killed brutally by states, including Gujarat.

Image 1. The Mugger (C. palustris) basking on river banks of Vishwamitri in the middle of Vadodara City,
Gujarat State, India.
9
 REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
Table 1. Proposed most possible potential location sites for development of ‘Mugger Refuge’ within Vadodara
City, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Site No 1 Site No 2 Site No 3 Site No 4 Site No 5

22020’4.7”N 22018’12.7”N 22017’43.8”N 22017’22.5”N 22014’4.1”N
1 Location: Geo-coordinates
73012’7.0”E 73011’12.1”E 73010’56.8”E 73010’34.1”E 73010’11.4”E
Nr. Bhimnath B/h Tractor Co. Nr. Vadsar
Area and closed location Sama B/h Palace area
2 & Fast trek court & near Munj- Bridge
City
mhuda Bridge.
3 Status of lands Not known Not known Not known Not known Not known
Water body. Water body.
Water body. Nesting, A number of
Present scenarios of the
Nesting and Water body. burrows and Water body. indirect signs
location (all the location
4 Burrows and Hatchlings noted two juveniles A sub-adult noticed, may
sites are best habitat for
two large in the area and a sub- recorded be used by
turtles)
animals sighted adult animals a number of
observed muggers
Land should be covered for
5 1.5km 1.0 km 1.0km 1.0km 1.0km
refuge (Approx.)
Carrying capacity (roughly
6 120 50 80 50 50
no.)
Priority ranked on the basis
8 of requirements of habits Second Fourth First Third -B Third-A
and habitat of the species.

The mugger and crocodilian
- like species evolved on the
earth almost in the age of
dinosaurs. Today dinosaurs
are extinct from the earth
but crocodilians still survive
without any changes. Human
beings evolved on the earth
about 40,000 years ago,
much after the crocodilians,
so if we talk about the right to
live on earth, then muggers
undoubtedly have the first
privilege and foremost
choice. Here we would not
want to discuss the rights and
choices we are yet to make,
but would question why such
conflict occurs between man
and animals. The Hindu
Philosophy states that every
life on earth is born of equal
rights and ‘live and let live’
applies to everyone. This
raises the question why we
kill any one inhumanely
without any reason.
Living in harmony with
nature has somewhere been
forgotten by us. We step into
the crocodilian realm and
than we pollute it, and finally
we try to eliminate them and
their habitat forever. We
do not leave safe spaces for
such wild animals; whether
muggers or moths or tigers
or even trees. We as human
beings do not want the
intrusion of any other life
form in our environs or in our
jurisdiction, up to our home
or street or city or country
or beyond. Our jurisdiction is
dependant on our thoughts
and beliefs and not on
nature’s rule of life.
But some locals or
‘Vadodara Nivasi’ have
thought about these
muggers in the river. They
want crocodiles in the river
and the river to be clean and
free from pollution. A river
in its true sense and not a
large natural sewage flowing
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through the city. Therefore
an urban authority launched
a multi disciplinary project on
the Vishwamitri River, called
the ‘Vishwamitri River Re-
Sectioning & Rejuvenation
Project’. In this project,
the authority considers the
conservation of the mugger
crocodile and retaining
man-animal harmony. They
want to solve the problem
by bringing better scientific
solutions based on the
philosophy of ‘live and let
live’. The authority wishes
to mitigate such conflict,
keeping the man and mugger
relationship intact.
Therefore the authority
has formed a team and had
produced a detailed report
with the help of a local NGO
and forest staff, to find a
few good habitats within the
existent river stretches within
the city limits. A total of
five river-side pockets were

Image 2. The aerial map of Vadodara City and location sites for
proposed for “Refuge for muggers” in the river side, the pockets were
selected after a scientific survey (Courtesy by www.googlearth.com)
selected, after a scientific
survey (Table 1, Image 2). A
study was then carried out on
the basis of an assessment of
the mugger’s habitat and the
present mugger population.
Other freshwater flora and
fauna were also considered
for such selection.
The report suggested
development of a safer
habitat on the river stretch
for mugger crocodiles where
all notorious and large sized
(over 3m) muggers could be
kept. This safe habitat would
be a part of the river and a
large landscape, where the
large animals could freely
move without any conflict
REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011
with humans and devoid of
any interference by man.
There are various benefits
for creating a safe refuge or
city sanctuary for mugger
crocodiles within the city
area. This refuge for muggers
or city sanctuary would be
beneficial for both muggers
and human beings. (i) Free
ranging large sized muggers
would not create any danger
to human life; (ii) Diminution
of mugger attacks and
mitigation of conflicts between
man and the species; (iii) A
better solution to the present
interim solution of ‘mugger
rescue’ activities from
human settlement areas;
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(iv) The refuge can provide
an alternative opportunity,
other than the zoo, for
tourist attraction and animal
enthusiasts; (v) It would
be the best visiting site for
science students of schools
and universities; (vi) It would
function as an ideal field
laboratory and a research
center for studying aquatic
biology; (vii) It would be a
good example of ‘conservation
of urban wildlife’; (viii) This
kind of refuge would be a
safer haven for other wildlife
also, such as aquatic turtles,
birds and amphibians, too. A
place where all the necessary
requirements of the species
could be fulfilled ensuring the
wellbeing of its biology and
ecology.
Presently a detailed
proposal has been submitted
to the Principal Conservator
of Forests & Wildlife Warden,
State Forest Department
of Gujarat for approval
and further consideration
before being forwarded to
the Ministry of Environment
and Forests for finalization.
So at present, the authority
and the locals ‘Vadodara
Nivasi’ eagerly awaiting
this permission to develop
a refuge for the mugger
crocodiles of the Vishwamitri
River.
 REPTILE RAP #12, May 2011

Participants of the Western Ghats Reptile Conservation Assessment and Management Plan Workshop
held in Coimbatore on 28 February to 4 March 2011.  The assessments are being currently reviewed and
the final assessments will be published later this year.

REPTILE RAP
OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD

Date of publication: 09 May 2011

ISSN: 2230-7079 (online) No. 12 | May 2011
Editor: Sanjay Molur
Editorial Advisor: Sally Walker

SARN Co-chairs: Sanjay Molur & S. Bhupathy

REPTILE RAP is the Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile

Network (SARN).

REPTILE RAP is published by Zoo Outreach Organisation

Reptile Rap is registered under
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Unported License, which allows
unrestricted use of articles in any
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reproduction and distribution by
providing adequate credit to the
authors and the source of publi-
cation.
OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD
and Conservation Breeding Specialist Group South Asia as a
service to the South Asian reptile conservation community as
well as conservation actioners and enthusiasts at large.
South Asian Reptile Network
c/o Zoo Outreach Organisation,
9-A, Lal Bahadur Colony, PB 1683, Peelamedu, Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu 641004, India
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