Thaketa farm and resort keeps 592 near extinct saltwater crocodiles
Crocodile conservation farm and resort in Setmuletmu ward, Thaketa Township, Yangon Region is raising 592 saltwater crocodiles (Ngamoeyeik cro-codile), one of the near extinct species of the 24 crocodile species the world has.
Normally, the croc conservation resort is crowded with local and foreign visitors daily. But now, it has been temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Myanmar saltwater crocs, included in the near extinct species, are being kept or conserved at the resort in Thaketa, Yangon Region and Meimahla Island in Ayeyawady Region. The 40-acre resort is raising 592 Ngamoeyeik crocs measuring from one foot and above. The resort is serving as the specific place for protecting Ngamoe-yeik crocs.
“We are now doing the work of cleaning the resort and feeding the animals. We have closed down our resort. Some came to us to donate food for the crocs. We have 592 crocs of various ages and sizes. We are paying more attention on looking after their health and food supply. Saltwater crocs are included in the extremely rare species. So, their existence is a pride for the country” said assistant director U Min Min, in-charge of the report.
The world has 24 crocodile species, and they include 14 species of Crocodiles, eight species of Alligators, and two species of Gavials. Myanmar has four croc species. Saltwater Ngamoeyeik crocs can be still found in Bogale Township, Ayeyawady Region, Thai crocs were once seen in the mangrove forest of Taninthayi Region, Inn crocs in the inland freshwater lakes and Ngahtaunghnyin or Hnakhaungshe crocs in mangrove forest of Rakhine State. Of the four species, only the Ngamoeyeik crocs can be found in the Meimahla wildlife conservation area in Bogale Township and Thaketa resort. Meimahla wildlife conservat-ion area has about 100 crocs. Saltwater crocs can live up to 70 or 80 years and on average a male can grow up to15 feet and the female about ten feet. A female croc can lay 20 to 70 eggs.
The resort in Yangon is keep-ing the near extinct saltwater crocs from the egg level to 15-foot long grownups. The aim of the resort is to conserve the Crocodylus porosus species that is the only croc species left in Myanmar, to earn foreign currency by exporting crocs abroad, to serve as a vacation and knowledge distribution centre for the public. It was opened on 2 March 1978 as a crock breeding section. It was upgraded to the Thaketa cro-codile conservation farm and resort on 6 November 1997.
Lin Khant