A new Parambassis species(Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia). Memoirs <strong>of</strong> the CaliforniaAcademy <strong>of</strong> Sciences 14: i-xii+1‒210.Roberts, T.R. (1994). Systematic revision <strong>of</strong> tropical Asianfreshwater glassperches (Ambassidae), with descriptions<strong>of</strong> three new species. Natural History Bulletin <strong>of</strong> SiameseSociety 42(1994 [1995]): 263–290.Sen, N. (1995). Pisces, state fauna <strong>of</strong> Meghalaya. ZoologicalSurvey <strong>of</strong> India 1: 483–606.K. Geetakumari & C. BasudhaTalwar, P.K. & A.G. Jhingran (1991). Inland Fishes <strong>of</strong> Indiaand Adjacent Countries. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co.Pvt. Ltd., N. Delhi, 1991, 2 vols, xix+1158.Vishwanath, W., W.S. Lakra & U.K. Sarkar (2007). Fishes<strong>of</strong> North East India. National Bureau <strong>of</strong> Fish GeneticResources, Lucknow, India, 264pp.3332<strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Threatened</strong> <strong>Taxa</strong> | www.threatenedtaxa.org | November 2012 | 4(14): 3327–3332
JoTT Sh o r t Co m m u n ic a t i o n 4(14): 3333–3341Current status <strong>of</strong> Marsh Crocodiles Crocodylus palustris(Reptilia: Crocodylidae) in Vishwamitri River, VadodaraCity, Gujarat, IndiaRaju Vyas505, Krishnadeep Tower, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat 390002, IndiaEmail: razoovyas@hotmail.comAbstract: Data presented here is based on a three year study(2008–2010) on a population <strong>of</strong> Mugger Crocodylus palustrisinhabiting Vishwamitri River near Vadodara City, Gujarat State,India. In total, 155 Muggers were counted in the 25km riverstretch during 2010. In all, 40 burrows were observed along theriver bank, and the same were clumped in certain sections <strong>of</strong> theriver. Muggers fed eight species <strong>of</strong> birds, and domestic livestockin addition to scavenging. Eight instances <strong>of</strong> human-crocodileconflicts were observed including four human causalities. A total90 Muggers were rescued from the urban areas and the samewere relocated elsewhere in the river system. Various types<strong>of</strong> threats to Mugger were also noticed including habitat loss,alteration and soil erosion and mortality due to rail traffic. Thepresent study suggests further research to propose strategies toconserve this population.Keywords: Mugger-human conflicts, rescue, river system,translocation, urban area.Date <strong>of</strong> publication (online): 26 November 2012Date <strong>of</strong> publication (print): 26 November 2012ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)Editor: S. BhupathyManuscript details:Ms # o2977Received 26 October 2011Final received 05 October 2012Finally accepted 20 October 2012Citation: Vyas, R. (2012). Current status <strong>of</strong> Marsh Crocodiles Crocodyluspalustris (Reptilia: Crocodylidae) in Vishwamitri River, Vadodara City,Gujarat, India. <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Threatened</strong> <strong>Taxa</strong> 4(14): 3333–3341Copyright: © Raju Vyas 2012. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 UnportedLicense. JoTT allows unrestricted use <strong>of</strong> this article in any medium for nonpr<strong>of</strong>itpurposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate creditto the authors and the source <strong>of</strong> publication.Acknowledgements: I am thankful to all staff members <strong>of</strong> NGOs andgovernment organization listed in Appendix 2, for the help in variousaspects <strong>of</strong> study and survey. Special thanks to the Conservator <strong>of</strong> Forest,Social Forestry, Vadodara for the help in survey. I am especially thankful toMrs. Snehal Bhavsar, Rajesh Bhavsar, Manoj Thakar, Vishal Thakor, ViralRoy, Pritesh Patel and Kartik Upadhayay for providing photographs for thearticle and accompanying me during the field work. Finally, I am grateful toKhushboo R. Vyas for reviewing the draft manuscript.urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:23DA3FAB-C113-4008-A8C4-1CDD4E92EAFBOPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOADThe Marsh Crocodile or Mugger Crocodyluspalustris is one <strong>of</strong> the common and wide spreadcrocodilian species in India. This species is categorizedas nationally ‘Vulnerable’ subsequent to an assessmentfollowing IUCN criteria for threatened species (Molur& Walker 1998) and has the highest legal protection inIndia as it is listed in Schedule I <strong>of</strong> the Indian Wildlife(Protection) Act 1972. During the early seventies,while the Mugger populations in India were reportedlydeclining (Whitaker & Andrews 2003), Oza (1975)reported over 50 individuals <strong>of</strong> this species in SayajiSarovar (Ajwa Village) in close vicinity to VadodaraCity, Gujarat. This population has reportedly declineddue to hunting and illegal fishing in the down-stream<strong>of</strong> River Vishwamitri (Vyas & Vyas 2002; Vyas 2010a).The present study was carried out between January2008 and December 2010 to determine its currentstatus and assess issues related to conservation.Materials and MethodsStudy Area: The present study was conducted in a25km long and 40–60 m wide stretch <strong>of</strong> VishwamitriRiver (from Vemali Village to Vadsar Bridge VadodaraCity). The river flows through Vadodara City fromnorth to south (Image 1) and it carries a significantquantum <strong>of</strong> sewage from the city and effluents fromthe Gujarat Industrial Development Corporations <strong>of</strong>Kalali and Makarpura. The downstream <strong>of</strong> the riveris highly polluted (Gujarat Pollution Board 2007–08)and the water color varied from dark green-black-pinkto red with a putrefied smell. The river stretch wasdivided into four sections based on the development<strong>of</strong> the city (Appendix 1) and river bank for easyapproach. The section-wise features <strong>of</strong> the river andgeneral information are available in Vyas (2010b).Mugger count: Muggers were counted (visually)during December 2008–January 2009 and night surveys<strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Threatened</strong> <strong>Taxa</strong> | www.threatenedtaxa.org | November 2012 | 4(14): 3333–3341 3333
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