Description

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Context :

The Chinese alligator is a symbol of Chinese culture & mythology.
There are only 200 alligators left in the wild.
They are now facing serious threats to their survival. So, their conservation efforts must be increased to protect this critically endangered species.

Habitat: Freshwater wetlands in eastern China, Yangtze River basin.
Historical Range: Middle & lower Yangtze & Yellow River basins.
Current Range: they are restricted to isolated wetlands & ponds in southeastern Anhui province.
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List) & listed as a Class I Endangered Species by the Chinese government.

Habitat destruction: This is the most critical factor, with most of their natural wetland habitats being converted into farmland. This is leaving them isolated.
Hunting pressure: Historically, Chinese alligators were hunted for their meat and skin, although this practice has somewhat declined due to conservation efforts, it still poses a threat in some areas.
Pollution: Agricultural pesticides & fertilizers runoff into their remaining habitats, contaminating their food sources and impacting their health.
Low genetic diversity: Due to the small, fragmented populations, the genetic diversity of the Chinese alligator is significantly reduced, making them more vulnerable to environmental changes.
Human-wildlife conflict: In some areas, local farmers may view alligators as a threat to their livestock. It is leading to conflicts and potential killing of alligators.

Government action: Establishment of a national Chinese alligator reserve and a large ex situ population (captive breeding).
Urgent need of Raising awareness & improving land use practices are essential to ensure the survival of the species.

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Species	Mugger Crocodile	Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile	Gharial
Description	Egg laying, hole nesting, dangerous	Largest living crocodile, man eater	Long, thin snout, harmless, fish eating
Habitat	Indian subcontinent (rivers, lakes, marshes, coastal lagoons)	Bhitarkanika, Sundarbans, Andamans, Nicobar Islands, Southeast Asia, Northern Australia	Himalayan rivers (Chambal, Ghagra, Gandak, etc.)
Threats	Habitat destruction, fishing, medicinal use of parts	Illegal hunting, habitat loss, man eater perception	Sand mining, river pollution, fishing, floods
Protection Status	IUCN: Vulnerable, CITES: Appendix I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I	IUCN: Least Concern, CITES: Appendix I (except Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea), Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I	IUCN: Critically Endangered, CITES: Appendix I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Causes:
- Human encroachment on riverbanks & marshy areas are leading to conflict.
- urbanization is also leading to more encounters.
Hotspots in India:
- Vadodara (Gujarat), Kota (Rajasthan), Bhitarkanika (Odisha), & Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Program	Start Year	Species Covered	Impact
Crocodile Conservation Project	1975	Gharial, Saltwater Crocodile, Mugger	Saltwater crocodile population increased from 96 in 1976 to 1,640 in 2012 in India.