Crocs have their day in the sun
An international conference, ‘Living with crocodilians’ gets underway tomorrow in Colombo
Crocodiles will bask in the spotlight, as eminent experts from across the world gather in Sri Lanka to discuss not only the dangers faced by this keystone species but also how to alleviate them.
Varied research on this “ancient group” which has survived from the time of the dinosaurs millions of years ago will also be presented as the ‘World Crocodile Conference’ with the slogan ‘Living with crocodilians’ gets underway from May 20-23 at the Goldi Sands Hotel in Negombo.
Mugger-monkey face-off – The leader of a Grey Langur troop faces a mugger at a Bundala water-hole to buy time for family and friends to escape to safety. He too walks off later, daring the mugger to follow. This photograph by Ranga Wijerathne of the Department of Wildlife Conservation will be exhibited during the conference.
The 22nd Working Meeting of the Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC) will also be held simultaneously.
Nearly 200 foreign and local delegates will attend the sessions on crocodiles, said Sri Lanka’s ‘croc man’, Anslem de Silva, the live-wire behind the conference, explaining that around 30 countries will be represented. Among the 50 local delegates will be a heavy presence of 10 from the Department of Wildlife Conservation and 10 from the National Zoological Gardens.
The delegates include experts, specialists, biologists, independent researchers and government officials, Mr. de Silva who is the Conference Director and current Regional Chairman for South Asia and Iran of the CSG told the Sunday Times, “with all the big countries being represented”.
While CSG Chairman Prof. Graham Webb will deliver the keynote address, world renowned expert on the human-crocodile conflict, Dr. Adam Briton; authority on the critically-endangered Gharial, Prof. Jeff Lang; and IUCN’s Red List authority, Dr. Parren Ross from the University of Florida will also address various sessions. The Madras Crocodile Bank officials will play an active role.
The scientific sessions would be preceded today (Sunday, May 19) with a visit by the delegates to the crocodiles in the National Zoological Gardens, Dehiwela, with officials supporting the conference. They will be given information on the capture of crocodiles, extraction of their blood and basic examination, followed by laboratory work. Later a demonstration on necropsy of a crocodile will be held at the University of Sri Jayew-ardenepura. Necropsy is an autopsy on an animal — the examination and dissection of a dead body to ascertain the cause of death.
Animal art – This ash painting on rock by the Veddahs, comparing the sizes of a crocodile and elephant at Hulan-nuge in the Ampara district was photographed by croc expert Anslem de Silva.
Sandwiched between the visit to the Zoo and the main sessions is the Steering Committee meeting tomorrow (Monday, May 20).
The ‘Sri Lanka session’ will bring to light in-depth research on many aspects including the social science perspective on the human-crocodile conflict in the Nilwala river as well as the first record of the parasitic infection Balantidium in marsh crocodiles in the Jaffna peninsula. Another topic that will grab the attention of the delegates is a presentation on the discovery of 4th century AD perforated crocodile tooth ornaments in Sri Lanka.
Other interesting facets during the sessions would be the conducting of a postmortem on a crocodile by a leading veterinarian from Australia and Mr. de Silva himself launching, most probably, the first comprehensive 254-page book on ‘Crocodiles of Sri Lanka’ with 72 colour plates. Mr. de Silva has also organized a photographic exhibition of crocodiles of Sri Lanka, while an added boon would be five paintings of crocodiles by leading animal artist, Jayantha Jinasena.
On a lighter note, Mr. de Silva added that brand new crocodile songs have been composed by Bernhard Seidel, which will be dished out by him while the delegates enjoy the sumptuous banquet arranged for them.
While there are 23 living species of alligators, crocodiles, caimans and gharials in the wild in the world, in the South Asian region there are three — Crocodylus palustris (Mugger), Crocodylus porosus (Saltwater crocodile) and Gavialis gangeticus (Gharial), with Sri Lanka having the Mugger and the Salty.
The CSG which is a worldwide network of biologists, wildlife managers, government officials, independent researchers, NGO representatives, farmers, traders, tanners, fashion leaders and private companies is actively working for the conservation of crocodiles.
“We are duty-bound to safeguard crocodiles because our survival is also inextricably linked to their wellbeing,” Mr. de Silva reiterated, adding that as a keystone species these reptiles play an essential role in the ecosystem. If not for keystone species, ecosystems would change drastically or even die off.
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