Jamshedpur: A temperamental female marsh crocodile seems to be spoiling the breeding plans of Tata Steel Zoological Park in Bistupur.

Muta Crocodile Breeding Centre in Ormanjhi, about 30km from Ranchi, is willing to donate a male crocodile to Tata zoo but authorities are apprehensive about the angry behaviour of the 18-year-old lone captive female crocodile.

"We need a male crocodile as animals cannot be kept single in zoos. The breeding centre in Ranchi has agreed to offer us one male crocodile but we have to analyse different aspects, including the temperament of the female crocodile here," said vet Manik Palit.

Tata zoo had procured a pair of crocodiles from Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan in 2003. Three years later the female crocodile had killed the male in a fit of rage. Since then she has been living alone, spending most of her time outside the pond.

Female crocodiles attain sexual maturity at the age of 15 and lay 12 to 15 eggs. They have a life span of around 35 years

The zoo authorities are also planning to shift the female crocodile to some other zoo only if they manage to get a new pair of crocodiles from Ranchi.

"If we get a new pair of crocodiles from Ranchi then we might shift the female one to some other zoo. Mating a new pair will be a risky affair in the presence of the female crocodile. We have also requested Muta Crocodile Breeding Centre to donate us a pair of crocodiles who are compatible with each other. We are waiting for a reply," Palit, also the zoo deputy director, told The Telegraph.

Shifting the female crocodile to some other zoo will not be easy as there has to be takers for the same. Tata zoo had requested some of their counterparts but none came forward.

Tata zoo management will also work on extending the size of the existing pond. "Space is an important factor when it comes to breeding of crocodiles. Presently we have a 7m pond but we are planning to extend it 20m keeping the breeding aspects in mind," Palit added.

Apart from the lone female crocodile, Tata zoo has four gharials - one male and three females. The crocodile and gharials live in the same enclosure that is separated by a boundary wall.