Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s muggers — marsh crocodiles found in Bhuj and Vadodara — will now receive a scientifically grounded management plan, following a comprehensive one-to-two-year ecological habitat study being planned in collaboration with the Gujarat forest department and NGOs.The study will be conducted by Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT), Reptile Conservancy Alliance (RCA), and Temple of Reptiles (ToR). Using GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping, researchers will evaluate population density, migration patterns, and habitat dynamics across 10 to 15 key parameters.A senior forest department source told TOI that an MoU will be signed for the detailed study, which is required to implement “targeted translocation of the muggers if needed.”Ganesh Muthiah, founder and managing trustee of RCA and ToR, explained the ecological logic behind the exercise.“Crocodiles are apex predators that have survived since the Mesozoic era — over 65 million years ago — owing to their extraordinary immune systems. Research in Tamil Nadu revealed crocodiles maintain river ecosystems by keeping invasive fish and plant species in check,” Muthiah said.He added, “In Gujarat, our holistic study will evaluate the entire aquatic matrix, including associated fauna like otters, weather variations, and river health.”Once the MoU is signed, a team of scientists will build a centralised state reptile data repository for Gujarat.The initiative grows out of the Save the Reptiles Campaign — a 15,000-kilometre, 120-day motorcycle expedition across 22 Indian states co-organised by RCA, ToR, and MCBT, which marks its 50th year.On Gujarat’s snakebite burden, Muthiah stressed the urgent need for region-specific antivenoms. “Venom is a complex cocktail of enzymes and proteins. A common krait’s venom profile in Tamil Nadu differs significantly from one in Gujarat,” he said. The WHO declared snakebite a Neglected Tropical Disease in 2017.Muthiah said, “When people see a snake, they either run away or kill it out of fear.” He added, “Rescuers must follow strict reporting structures and best practices to prevent handling accidents.”
