Mugger or Marsh Crocodile Crocodylus palustris FACT FILE: Local Name: Mugger Much (Urdu) Family: CROCODYLIDAE Genus: Crocodylus Status: Rare and Endangered Warning: Mugger can be very dangerous. People should avoid swimming in lakes and rivers that are known to have Muggers.   Photo Credit: Stefan ([email protected])   Description and Biology: General characteristics:  The mugger is a medium-sized crocodile (maximum length ca. 45m), and has the broadest snout of any living member of the genus Crocodylus. The colour generally is light tan in juveniles, with black cross-banding on body and tail. Adults are generally grey to brown, with little banding remaining. Enlarged scutes present around the throat area may serve a similar protective function when moving through shallow swampy areas. This is a medium to large species (4 to 5 m).    Biology: Mugger crocodiles are a hole nesting species. As with other hole nesters, egg laying takes place during the annual dry season. Females become sexually mature at a length of approximately 1.82m, and lay 2530 eggs (Whitaker and Whitaker 1989). Nests are located in a wide variety of habitats, and females have even been known to nest at the opening of, or inside, the burrow (B.C. Choudhury, pers. comm.).    In captivity, some mugger crocodiles are known to lay two clutches in a single year (Whitaker and Whitaker 1984), but this has not been observed in the wild. Incubation is relatively short, typically lasting 5575 days (Whitaker 1987).    Juveniles take crustaceans, insects and small fish generally. Adults eat larger fish, amphibians, reptiles (mainly snakes and possibly turtles), birds and mammals (e.g monkeys). Large adults have been known to take deer and buffalo on occasions.   Habitat, Distribution and Status: Muggers are principally restricted to the Indian subcontinent where they may be found in a number of freshwater habitat types including rivers, lakes and marshes. In India and Sri Lanka, mugger crocodiles have adapted well to reservoirs, irrigation canals and man made ponds, and in some areas may even be found in coastal saltwater lagoons (Whitaker 1987, Whitaker and Whitaker 1989). In some areas of northern India and Nepal, mugger populations are sympatric with gharial, but the two species tend to be segregated by habitat. Where found together with gharial, muggers tend to bask in midstream on rocks or muddy banks (Groombridge 1982). This species, like a number of other crocodilians, is known to dig burrows.   No recent survey data is available on Mugger Crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) in Pakistan, but this was considered endangered or very rare in the early 1980s (Groombridge 1982). In Pakistan, the mugger is reported to be extinct in the Punjab province due to alteration of habitat (Chaudhury 1993). Small populations are reported in Sind along the Nara Canal, in Khairpur Sanghar and Nawab districts and Haleji lake. These are said to be vulnerable and diminishing. The most recent survey was conducted by the zoological survey of Pakistan during 1997. Five hundred specimens were recorded at Makhi and Baqar Dhand of the Chotiiari reservoir. Plans for winter survey during 1999- 2000 season are under way. One thousand specimens were recorded in 1999 in Sanghar district by the Sind wildlife department. The species is now considered safe in Sind. Crocodile recovery has been in association with a conservation project in the Deh Akro no. 2 Taluka Nawabshah reservior, downstream from the Sukkur Barrage near Rohri. The project began in 1983, and current estimates place the crocodile population at about 2000 (Ahmad 1990).   The mugger remains widely distributed in Baluchistan with confirmed locations on the Nari, Hab, Titiani, Hingol and Dasht rivers and Nahang and Kach Kuar. In all cases the populations are of unknown but small size. In Balochistan, the widespread killing of crocodiles has threatened the majority of the local populations. Many crocodiles were reported killed in the River Hingol during a period of low water in 1986-1987 (Khan 1989). Approximately 50 individuals are held in captivity in seven facilities and three pairs are breeding. A program is ongoing to obtain muggers from the captive bred stock in India for release into protected habitats. Principal threats include killing for sale of the hide, killing by fishermen as well killing for the collection of specimens for laboratories and museums (Khan 1988).   Conservation projects in Pakistan Establishment of a conservation / management program in Pakistan:  Recent reports suggest that mugger crocodile populations in Pakistan remain viable after being severely depleted by commercial hunting. However, no formal surveys have been conducted, and in some parts of the country continued killing has been reported. Interest has been expressed in initiating a restocking program similar to the one in India. However, surveys of population status and a biological research program are a prerequisite to establishing a management program.      Credits: IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/HERPETOLOGY/Crocs.htm) Dr. Adam Britton, CROCODILIANS Natural History and Conservation (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/cnhc.html) Sindh Wildlife Department WWF-Pakistan Nausherwan Ahmed ©1997-2003 Wildlife of Pakistan-All Rights Reserved.