Population assessment, threats and conservation measures of marsh crocodile at Dasht River, Gwadar

Dasht River is the largest seasonal river in District Gwadar and Turbat which is fed by Nehang and Kech Rivers. The river and its tributariesare good habitat of Marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). Population census of the species revealed that there is a sharp decline in their numbers and are some serious threat to crocodile at Dasht like predation of their eggs by feral dogs, shooting by local people, habitat destruction like construction of dams and agricultural activities, illegal smugglings of crocodile juveniles and frequent tropical cyclones/high floods in the area. There was an alarming decline in the populations during a period of 10 years. There were 99 crocs of the species in 2007-8 having 63 adults, 18 sub adults and 18 juveniles which reduced to only 25 crocs having 23 adults and only 2 juveniles in 2017-18.The decline of adult population and absence of offsprings indicates that the reproduction is not taking place, which is a highly unhealthy and dangerous situation. The habitat degradation needs to be controlled. The current conservation program like might the species which is classified as endangered must be considered for a status of critically endangered species.