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.