A croc spotted in the wilds of the Kumana sanctuary
The picture on our back cover is taken at the Kumana birds sanctuary
where a wonderful stork is in the background and a crocodile is trying
to get across.
The Crocodilia is globally represented by three groups, i.e. the
alligators and caimans (family Alligatorinae), Gavials (family
Gavialinae) and the true crocodiles (family Crocodylinae).
Out of the 23
extant crocodile species in the world, two species, viz. the Saltwater
or Estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porossus) and the Mugger or Marsh
crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) inhabit Sri Lanka. They are found in
113 locations in the country with the majority from Yala and Wilpattu
and is probably the largest of all living reptiles, with an adult body
length ranging from 5-6 m and weighing over 1000 kg. It is also the most
widely distributed crocodile species in the world as it can swim long
distances in the open sea and colonise new locations.
According to Deraniyagala's records, these crocodiles were common in
and around Colombo in the past but now are seldom recorded. It mainly
inhabits mangrove swamps and river deltas in the coastal areas of the
first peneplain, but has been recorded about 160 km inland from
Aluthnuwara on the banks of the Mahaweli river ( Deraniyagala, 1953).
Males are strictly territorial and solitary. However, the numbers are
decreasing at an alarming rate.
This photograph is a group of whistling ducks at the Kumana bird
sanctuary spotted by our photographer Susantha Wijegunasekera. The
Orange breasted Green pigeon was also in the precincts of the sanctuary. |