Crocodile lays eggs without mating

[Guest guest]

The Govt rearing centers and the Madras Crocodile Bank have been carrying out

research on the crocs since the 1970s. Some of the basic findings have already

been described but there are a lot of avenues of work that have not yet been

given airing. And this rare occurrence is one of the avenues that has not been

researched or studied. A crocs behavioural instinct depends a lot on its area of

habitation and environmental conditions. So this rare phenomenon could have a

plausible reason that it could have been due to the factors stated above apart

from certain biological factors that needs to be studied and analyzed for this

phenomenon to be explained.

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4777255.cms

 

Crocodile lays eggs without mating

PTI 14 July 2009, 08:36pm IST

 

KENDRAPARA (Orissa): The country's only captive white crocodile, who had become

an enigma for shunning mating habits, has now laid eggs and that

 

 

too, without mating.

 

Living in isolation and detached from any male crocodile, the 33-year-old Gori

has laid about 30 eggs in the captivity of a pen in the crocodile research farm

of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary here.

 

The eggs, however, lacked fertility contents and potency for procreation, said

officials adding that besides Gori, another captive female crocodile also laid

'infertile' eggs last week.

 

" Laying of eggs by isolated reptiles is a rare occurrence. The eggs have now

been preserved for research work, " said officials.

 

Gori, acclaimed as the country's lone captive white crocodile, is famous for its

typical behavioural instinct.

 

In isolation since its birth in the sanctuary since 1975, the animal had avoided

mating despite several attempts from forest personnel. The animal had even

attacked a male crocodile that had been released into the pen for mating.

 

The enigmatic Gori has been keeping bad health since the past few years.