Endangered reptiles

Our sweet water crocodile have long become extinct. What a majestic sight to see a crocodile sauntering and sun-bathing along the river bank and water bodies! We are also on the verge of losing salt water crocodiles which wandered freely and in abundance the coastal area of Bangladesh once upon a time but now its presence can only be seen in part of south west cost and in river estuaries of Sunderbans.

The Indian gharial or the Gangetic gharial has also been earmarked as critically endangered. It was a very common sight to see a crocodile or gharial sauntering throughout the day undisturbed on the sands of river bank. But now with in a span of half a century all that has changed. We the human race rewriting the geography, demography, ecology, landscapes and even the sheer survival of other animal species.

A study by the world conservation union (IUCN) brought to light some innermost facts on the status of our reptilian kingdom i.e. crocodiles, tortoise, snakes, lizards etc. The study shows that there exited 109 species of reptiles in the country out of which one has become extinct, 12 are critically endangered 24 are endangered, 22 are vulnerable, there is not enough information on 39 and only 12 are considered totally safe.

Among those which are considered greatly endangered are Red Crowned Turle, soft-shell turtle, flying lizard, reticulated python, Russel viper etc.

The natural human psyche tends to consider reptiles as ugly and dangerous and in the process we apt to forget that these reptiles are a very essential part of balancing our ecosystem.

The dwindling number of reptiles is the direct result of flagrant human encroachment, habitat fragmentation, reckless hunting, deforestation, lack of sufficient food, drying out of rivers, tributaries, water bodies, filling of marshy lands, lack of human awareness etc.

We must realize that it is to our own benefit that we find a device to cohabit and coexist with other species. There is hardly an animal or reptile in the animal kingdom which attacks humans unless they are provoked or feels threatened. This is core to animal instinct. If we can understand this then we might be more rationale and understanding towards the reptiles and behave as such.

A concerted effort should be made so that these reptiles are not squeezed out of their familiar habitats. We should not infringe on their living space. They must be protected from gradual extinction by creating sanctuaries, wild reserves where they can thrive themselves in familiar conditions with enough hunting space for food. Pragmatic and scientific measures should be taken before it gets too late.

Development is fine bot not at the price of destroying the ecology of which reptiles have a very important part to play as a major organism.

Syed Shamim Faruk is a conservation activist.