Review on Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) mortality by vehicle collisions in Gujarat State, India

Railway lines, roadways, canals, and electricity cable networks, pose serious problems to wildlife, fragmenting habitats worldwide. These infrastructures are well-recognized as linear intrusions. Today it is a threat to wildlife, including the Mugger or Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). The current study documents ۱۵ crocodile-vehicle collisions (CVC) recorded in two years (۲۰۲۱ and ۲۰۲۲); ۱۱ were on roads, and four were on railway tracks. Sex was determined for ۱۱ individuals (five males, six females), and four unknown due to crushing). A total of ۱۳ individuals were found dead at the various sites of collision, and two juvenile individuals were found injured, and one of them was treated successfully and returned to the wild. The high numbers (۹) of CVCs occur in the Central Gujarat and follow ۳ CVCs in Saurashtra, ۲ CVC in the Kutch region, and one in north Gujarat. Mitigation measures would be required for the collision situationsin Gujarat are discussed. The literature survey shows totals of ۷۵ CVCs were recorded within the last ۱۸ years due to the state's road (n= ۵۱, ۶۸%) and railway (n= ۲۴, ۳۲%) networks, with the highest numbers of ۵۶ CVCs observed in the Central Gujarat and lowest ۲ CVC noted in north Gujarat, and no CVC was noted in south Gujarat. The high number of subadults and juvenile muggers victimized due to the CVC. The CVC site location in different regions of Gujarat state positively corresponds to crocodile populations. However, the Mugger crocodile (C. palustris) has been nationally protected under Indian Wildlife Act as Schedule I species, the IUCN criteria as ‘Vulnerable’, and the Appendix I of CITES, therefore conservation acts are essential. The CVC incidences were recorded widely in the entire species distribution range, from Iran, India, and Sri Lanka and can be classified as an emerging threat for mugger crocodiles.

Keywords:

Crocodile-Vehicle Collision , habitat , linear intrusions , transport networks , threat