Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre

The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre is a crocodile breeding and rearing park situated at Neyyar, a popular tourist destination near the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India.^[1]

History

Crocodile farm

A crocodile farm was started at the site in 1977, accommodating around 44 mugger crocodiles. The number of crocodiles varies as muggers are raised and released to the Neyyar river and lake near the dam site.^[2] It also accommodates other reptiles like snakes that are caught straying at the tribal villages nearby for short periods before they are released back into the sanctuary, most recently an Indian Python.

Steve Irwin memorial

Established in May 2007, the Research Centre was initially named the Steve Irwin National Park, in honor of the late naturalist Steve Irwin, who was known as "The Crocodile Hunter". Irwin was killed by a stingray barb, while filming a documentary in 2006.^[3] The crocodile park was the world's first-known memorial honoring the sportsman. A life-size plaque depicting Irwin was placed by the Kerala Forest Department at the gate of the park (though it was removed later).^[4] The Centre was inaugurated by Benoy Viswam, the Forest Minister in the Government of Kerala.^[5]

Controversies

In 2009, Irwin's estate sent a legal cease-and-desist notice to the park, alleging violation of intellectual property rights and instructing them to cease using Irwin's name and image without the consent of the estate.^[6] This led to the removal of Irwin's name from the crocodile park. The picture engraved at the park's gate was also removed.^[7]

Crocodile attacks

In 2001, mugger attacks were reported on tribals living near the dam site. Studies conducted by KFRI found these to be isolated incidents resulting from abnormal behaviour of a minority of the mugger population.^[8] A few weeks later an adult male crocodile accused of killing a tribal woman was trapped near the dam site.

References

1. "Destination development at Neyyar Dam Tourism Trail". The Hindu. 27 June 2008. Archived from the original on 30 June 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
2. "People trap crocodile at Neyyar - India - The Hindu". hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2005. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
3. "Crocodile park sheds Steve Irwin's name". The Hindu. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
4. "Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Crocodile park catapults sanctuary to fame". The Hindu. 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
5. "Kerala croc park named after Steve Irwin". The Times of India. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
6. "Kerala gets notice for naming park in Oz croc hunter's name - India". The Times of India. 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
7. "Kerala govt removes Steve Irwin's name from croc park - India - DNA". Dnaindia.com. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
8. "Killer crocodile abnormal". The Hindu. 4 January 2001. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2011.