Nature Quest: Sakhina may not become mom this time
To the frustration of forestry officials it seems that Sakhina, a resident crocodile of Tengrariri reserve forest in Barguna's Taltali upazila, will not become a mother this year. One of the three original crocodilian residents of the reproduction centre at the reserve, Sakhina raised great hopes in the last week of June this year when she laid her first clutch of 25 eggs.
"At first she was visiting the eggs regularly," says forest beat officer, Sajib Kumer Mojumder. "But for the last two weeks she hasn't."
The eggs have already become discoloured, frustrating hopes of a new crocodile generation hatching this season. "We even removed seven eggs that looked spoilt in the hope the remainder could hatch, but they became similarly discoloured," says Mojumder.
However, crocodile specialist Md Zakir Hossain of Karamjal crocodile breeding centre in the Sunderbans says there is always a low possibility that a first-time attempt to start a family by a female crocodile will be successful. It does not mean Sakhina may not have better success next year.
Nonetheless the news is hard to accept. "We were so excited to see baby crocodiles in the eco-park and we took all measures to bring about a good outcome," says the divisional forest officer, Mihir Kumar Doe. "We waited the ninety days in vain but from next year we will use an incubator," he added.
Originally three crocodiles, Tengra, Giri and Sakhina, were relocated to the eco-park along with 24 boars, 8 leopards, 8 deer, 2 pythons and 2 porcupines; but sadly Tengra passed away.
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