Balasore, March 5: A census for fresh water crocodile carried out at the Similipal biosphere region showed apparently a marginal decrease in their number compared to the previous year.

The census carried out on February 21 and 22 in the river flowing through the sanctuary, including the core area, assessed 80 crocodiles against previous year’s 82 .

Despite the fall in number, authorities said the variation was not a cause of concern.

“We are counting them through direct sighting method and by taking into account circumstantial evidences. The crocodiles generally come out of water to soak up the sunrays in winter. During this period, while we count them by direct sighting, we enumerate others by the marks they leave on the surface,” said deputy director of the Similipal Tiger Reserve Bikash Ranjan Dash.

“Since we can’t count those in water, the variation would be there,” he said.

The forest division of Karanjia and Baripada undertook census exercise. While 45 crocodiles were noticed in West Deo river, 14 were found in the East Deo and Khairi river and another four were noticed in the Gadakhai river. Eleven crocodiles were found in West Deo river and four were sighted in the Budhabalanga river.

“We analysed and compiled the number of crocodiles. It is not possible to give the exact number since most of the time they remain in water,” said regional chief conservator of forests Anup Kumar Nayak.

Wildlife activists expect more scientific methods to be adopted for counting crocodiles. “The Similipal authorities should adopt a scientific approach to count the crocodiles,” said Bhanoomitra Acharya, honorary wildlife warden of Mayurbhanj.

The fresh water crocodiles are released in the river flowing through the sanctuary after artificial breeding under a project farm in Jashipur.