Preventing crocodile attacks

Ravi Corea Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society

It is with interest that I read an article about establishing the first crocodile park in Sri Lanka. According to the article, plans have been proposed to contain wild crocodiles in enclosures set up in Kiralakelle along the banks of the Nilwala River. This is as a short term means to mitigate the increasing crocodile-human conflicts in the area.

In a way, this idea is similar to some of the ongoing efforts to address another human-wildlife conflict issue of epic proportions, which is human-elephant conflict known popularly as HEC. In regard to HEC, some of the measures that have been applied as well as been planned to mitigate it, are to fence elephants into national parks, various translocation methods and to catch crop raiding elephants and hold them in specially enclosed bull parks.

Many of these measures have not been designed based on scientific research - especially taking into consideration the ecological needs, behaviour and population of elephants and the need to plan for their long term conservation.

Therefore it is not surprising that most of these efforts have not been successful, and also have being highly detrimental and lethal to elephants. The idea to catch and contain crocodiles in ‘crocodile parks’ in the Nilwala River seems to be a similar blue print for disaster! This idea too, totally disregards science, conservation, wildlife management, education and common sense!

What is even more disconcerting is the fact, that the Department of Wildlife Conservation, which is vested with the sole responsibility of protecting and conserving our dwindling wildlife, has become an agency to protect people to the detriment of wildlife! The efforts so far of the Department of Wildlife Conservation to address HEC, and now the increasing threats of crocodile attacks completely ignores the fact that these are endangered wild animals whose environments and habitats are threatened by human encroachment and disturbances.

Human activities

The main responsibility of the Department should be to develop solutions to protect these animals in situ in a manner that their survival is not in danger from human activities. If the Wildlife Department would only make an effort to address these issues from such an approach, then human interests would be automatically taken care off. But to develop such long term solutions basic research is an essential and vital tool.

Basic research is the foundation of good knowledge. Unfortunately, it seems the Department of Wildlife Conservation is not a great proponent of basic research or in its use.

Without data from basic research, any effort, whatever it maybe, is like, launching missiles without a guidance system.

They are bound to fail and will cause only more disasters that will result in further suffering of animals and people. Therefore the Department of Wildlife Conservation and other organizations should improve their capacity by encouraging research and developing practical approaches to problems of this nature. The life and social sciences faculties of the national universities, and other state and private organizations could get involved in collaborative research to develop effective solutions to these problems.

Many traditional habitats of wildlife today have diminished to a fraction of their former size.

To conserve wildlife in such diminished habitats will be an ongoing challenge for scientists, conservationists, and wildlife managers. This is the main reason why research on animal ecology, behaviour, distribution, ranging and population dynamics is critical to develop effective programmes for their conservation.

Crocodile habitat

The Nilwala River has been a traditional crocodile habitat and the potential for conflict has always been there, and will only increase as the human population as well as their activities in the river increases over time.

Obviously solutions to minimize crocodile attacks on people have to be developed. The question is what can be done about it? The most obvious suggestions would be either to kill or remove the crocodiles, or be more careful. Quite naturally close kith and kin of crocodile attack victims wanting immediate revenge would demand the former.

The more rational and practical long term approach would be to educate and make the public aware of the dangers and put in place measures to minimize attacks from crocodiles.

While removing crocodiles might sound good to some people, or even look good on paper, in reality it is not a viable solution.

The main reason being, how to know when all the crocodiles have been removed especially the man eaters? The other reason being after how many crocodiles are caught does it become safe to use the river again? Does having just a few crocodiles in the river make it any safer?

Another important matter to keep in mind is how such a large number of confined crocodiles will be maintained. If these crocodiles are going to be kept in pens or stockades in the water or by the river then it would be good give due consideration to the following: How big the pens should be? How will they be constructed and with what material? Do we have the expertise to manage such a facility? One of the most important consideration should be what will the crocodiles be fed on? The point is, whatever they are fed on will not be what they eat in the wild. If they are fed on farmed fish, meat off cuts or offal, then, these crocodiles are being habituated to eat people food.

Due to some natural catastrophe such as another tsunami or seasonal flooding the enclosures are breached, there would be a large number of crocodiles - now used to people and their foods - roaming in the area. Basically the danger posed from crocodiles has now been increased tremendously.

Conservation programme

As opposed to catching a large number of crocodiles and keeping them in captivity, which would be very costly to begin with - it would be more effective over the long term to educate the people through outreach and public awareness programs, and by providing them with devices to minimize attacks.

The devices should be crocodile proof barriers set in the river extending onto the banks and placed at points where the people have to access the river.

These barriers should be constructed in a manner that they are effective even during the seasonal flooding of the river or even due to a tsunami.

They should be permanent structures made with durable and sturdy materials. Sections of the river that are outside of these barriers should have plenty of effective signage warning people about the dangers from crocodiles. In addition, public service announcements should be made using local media, posters and leaflets.

These announcements should be broadcasted over radio and television, and the posters prominently displayed in schools, offices, businesses, bus stands, and religious places of worship, and even on large holdings at main intersections. The leaflets should be distributed to all the homes.

While nobody plans to be a victim of a crocodile attack yet they do occur. Most probably the victims never knew the risks.

They must have been using the river for years and never considered the crocodiles as a serious threat to their lives. Whatever the reason, people need to be aware of the danger from crocodiles throughout the year.

People must be provided with the most up-to-date and factual information about the distribution, behaviour, population, conservation status, as well as the dangers posed by crocodiles.

To provide such information it is necessary to conduct research on the crocodiles which should include a tagging and/or radio-telemetry project.

This could be the beginning of a long-term research and conservation programme that could eventually develop into a marketable wildlife experience for tourists. As one Australian concerned over the increasing crocodile attacks in Darwin, Australia had said, “If people don’t respect what you are telling them about crocodiles, you cant expect them to listen.”

Our wildlife authorities should take this into heart and invest in research, sustainable conservation, and effective conflict management measures, and create public awareness to prevent future crocodile attacks.