The Tamil Nadu government is expected to approve soon a proposal forwarded by the Forest and Tourism Departments for re-development of the Amarvathy Crocodile Farm in Tiruppur district.
According to an official source, the facility in the ambit of Anamalai Tiger Reserve is the largest centre for wild-breeding of crocodiles in south India.
Earlier this year, the Tourism Department submitted a proposal to the State government to develop a 15-acre park alongside the Crocodile Farm near the Amaravathy Dam at ₹5.15 crore. The proposal was readied after the visit of State Tourism Minister R. Rajendran to locations of tourism importance in Tiruppur district.
According to a senior official of the Forest Department, the proposal of the Tourism Department envisages development of the park with landscaping, replacement of the enclosures, and adequate parking facilities for two-wheelers and four-wheelers. The existing facilities include canteen and separate toilets for men and women.
The footfall to the reservoir is on the rise, particularly during week-ends and holidays. The Crocodile Farm witnesses visitors in large numbers, mostly in units of families during week-ends. The Forest Department has put up boards describing the characteristics of the mugger crocodiles.
A senior official of Forest Department said there were about 80 crocodiles in the Farm, with equal number of males and females.
With an average life-span of 40-50 years, the population of the reptiles was stable for years now. While adult animals died of ageing at periodic intervals, addition took place when eggs were hatched, an official said.
The Forest staff fed the crocodiles with chicken, mutton and fish on alternate days. On an average, a well-grown crocodile was fed with one kg of meat. The quantum of meat was sufficient since the crocodiles did not have adequate physical activity when bred in captivity, the official explained.
Published - March 13, 2025 07:39 pm IST
