KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhitarkanika (Orissa): The health profile
of a rare estuarine female croc-Gori, country's
only captive white crocodile caged in a pen
in Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, has deteriorated
considerably since past one week, according
to official sources.
While there is no palpable threat to her
life at present, the ageing process is fast
catching up the albino species. Since last
Thursday, it has mostly turned immobile
and was not sighted basking under early
morning sunlight near the bed of the mini-pool.
What has made the forest personnel worried
is that the caged reptile is showing signs
of disinterest towards daily dose of food
provided by the department. The sanctuary
staff used to feed it with crab and fish
thrice a day. As a forest staff put it,
the caged animal has showed disinterest
towards food and is being sighted lying
motionless in pool water.
A veterinary surgeon from Chandballi in
Bhadrak district periodically monitoring
the reptile's health confided that the animal
is visibly restless and is not as mobile
as it was in past years. The sick animal
is being kept under observation.
Declining to divulge the nature of sickness,
the surgeon said that there is no immediate
cause of concern. Commenting on the skipping
of food habits on its part, the veterinary
surgeon said that the crocodile on quite
a few occasions in past has displayed such
behavioural instinct.
The Bhitarkanika National Park officials
on the other hand declined to elaborate
on the state of the health of the animal
and added that it is under constant observation
of veterinary surgeons.
It's pertinent to note here that Gori,
acclaimed as country's lone captive white
crocodile, used to hog the spotlight over
the years for its typical behavioral instinct.
Living in isolation since its birth in the
sanctuary since 1975, the animal had shunned
mating habits despite several attempts made
by forest personnel.
Things reached tragic proportion in the
past as Gori had violently attacked the
male partner that had been released into
the pen for mating purpose. Gori lost its
left eye in the clash with the male partner.
The enigmatic Gori had put the wildlife
personnel in a tight spot in past years
for its poor health.
The 32-year-old crocodile, which has whitish
patches all over the body, had been hatched
and bred by the forest department as a part
of crocodile conservation programme.
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