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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bhor Saidan Crocodile Breeding Centre
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Wildlife breeding
| image_skyline = Marsh Crocodiles basking in the sun.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Haryana#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Haryana, India
| coordinates = {{coord|29|57|43|N|76|41|49|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Haryana]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kurukshetra district]]
| established_title =
| established_date = 1980
| founder = [[Mahant]]
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Government of Haryana]]
| governing_body = [[Forests Department, Haryana]]
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
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| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code =
| registration_plate =
| blank1_name_sec1 =
| blank1_info_sec1 =
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20141109052030/http://haryanaforest.gov.in/ www.haryanaforest.gov.in]
| footnotes =
}}

'''Bhor Saidan Crocodile Breeding Centre''', managed by the [[Forests Department, Haryana|Haryana Forests Department]] to [[Captive breeding|captive breed]] and conserve the freshwater [[mugger crocodile]] (Crocodylus palustris) native to India, is located at [[Bhor Saidan]] village on Kurukshetra-Pehowa Road in [[Kurukshetra district]] of [[Haryana]] in India.<ref name=croc1/> It is 13 km from the old Kurukshetra Bus Stand and 22 km from the new Kurukshetra Bus Stand in sector 10.

It is one of such 4 crocodile breeding centres in India, other two rated as top most success crocodile breeding centres by [[National Geographic Society]] are the [[Madras Crocodile Bank Trust]] (breeds all 3 native crocodile species of India - freshwater muggers, freshwater [[gharial]]s and [[salt water crocodile]]s) and the [[Kukrail Reserve Forest|Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre at Lucknow]] (breeds only freshwater gharials), and other being [[Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary]].

[[Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary]] is 10 km to the south between Nikatpura and Sarsa.

==History==

In the 1930s, the [[Mahant]]s of the nearby Bhureeshwar Temple brought few mugger crocodiles and released in the pond next to the temple.<ref name=croc1/> After the population of native mugger, gharial and estuarine saltwater crocodiles declined in India, the [[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]]-[[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]] Crocodile Breeding and Management Project was launched in 1975 in co-operation with the [[Government of India]] (GoI) and various State Governments, 16 crocodile rehabilitation centres and 11 crocodile sanctuaries were established between 1975 and 1982 and crocodiles were released in 19 sanctuaries. Till the funding was stopped by the GoI in 1991, GoI had provided [[grant-in-aid]] funding to states on 50:50 ratio.<ref name=dec4>De Vos A., 1984, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150404002553/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnaar887.pdf A review of accomplishments of the Government of India/UNDP/FAO Project in the conservation of crocodiles, 1975 to 1982], Crocodile conservation in India. Biological Conservation, vol 29, pp. 183-189.</ref> Bhor Saidan is one of those crocodile sanctuaries established in 1982 by GoI as part of the UNDP-FAO Crocodile Breeding Project. In 1982–83, the Bhor Saidan village [[Panchayati raj|panchayat]] gave 15+ acre land to the [[Government of Haryana]] to expand the breeding centre and the Forests Department of Haryana took over the management of the breeding centre.<ref name=croc1>[http://www.upsbdb.org/pdf/Souvenir2012/ch-16.pdf A Review on Status and Conservation of Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in India]</ref><ref name=escape3/>

==Significance==

=== Ecological significance ===

[[IUCN Red List]] of [[threatened species]], lists mugger as “[[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]]”. [[CITES]], a multilateral treaty for protecting endangered plants and animals, lists crocodiles under Appendix-I of species threatened with extinction.<ref name=wild1>[https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Crocodylus_palustris/ ], animaldiversity.org.</ref>
There are only 5700 to 8700 muggers in the wild.<ref name=wild2>[https://www.crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk/conservation/conservation-status/ Crocodile conservation status], crocodilesoftheworld.co.uk.</ref>

=== Religious significance===
[[File:Varunadeva.jpg|thumb|240px| A crocodile-like Makara as [[Varuna]]'s animal vehicle.]]
[[File:Sculpture - Jain Museum , Khajuraho India.JPG|thumb|240px|Makara Sculpture at Jain Museum, [[Khajuraho]].]]
{{see also | Makara | l1= Significance of crocodiles in Hindus and Buddhism | 48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra | List of Indus Valley Civilization sites | l3= Indus Valley Civilization sites in Haryana }}

Crocodile Breeding Centre is located next to the ''Bhureeshwar Temple'', which one of the [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|tirth]] (pilgrimage site) in the [[48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra]] of the [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]] pilgrimage circuit. Bhor Saidan village, sitting on an ancient archeological mound of [[Painted Grey Ware culture]] (1200 BCE to 600 BCE)) from the [[Vedic period]] of [[Mahabharata]], is on the banks of dried up river bed of [[Sarasvati River]],<ref name=kruk1>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kurukshetra.nic.in/tour/Archeologysite/bhor.htm |title=Bhor Saidan on Kurukshetra's official website |access-date=22 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912011402/http://www.kurukshetra.nic.in/tour/Archeologysite/bhor.htm |archive-date=12 September 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=saras1>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/saraswati-research-centre-yet-to-come-up-at-ku/410636.html Saraswati research centre yet to come up at KU, The Tribune newspaper, 22-May-2017]</ref><ref name=saras2>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070211/haryana.htm Experts for work on Saraswati river project, Tribune News Service, 11-Feb-2007]</ref> was named after [[Kaurava]] hero [[Bhurishravas|Bhurisrava]] of [[Mahabharta]], son of Somadutta.<ref name="Bhor">[http://sarasvati97.blogspot.sg/2008/02/vedic-saravati-channel-at-bhor-sayidan.html Bhor Saidan name history]</ref>

The [[Makara]] (crocodile), equivalent to the [[Zodiac]] sign [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]] in [[Hindu astrology]], is a revered legendary sea-creature in [[Hindu mythology|Hindu belief]] in which makara is the [[vahana]] (vehicle) of the sea god [[Varuna]] and the river goddess such as the [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]], [[Narmada#Significance in Hinduism|Narmada]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Darian|first=Steven|date=1976|title=The Other Face of the Makara|journal=Artibus Asiae|volume=38|issue=1|pages=29–36|doi=10.2307/3250095|jstor=3250095|issn=0004-3648}}</ref><ref name="Beer2003">{{cite book|author=Robert Beer|title=The handbook of Tibetan Buddhist symbols|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-3804Ud9-4IC&pg=PA77|access-date=17 January 2011|date=10 September 2003|publisher=Serindia Publications, Inc.|isbn=978-1-932476-03-3|pages=77–}}</ref><ref name="Williams2003">{{cite book|author=George Mason Williams|title=Handbook of Hindu mythology|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068|url-access=registration|access-date=17 January 2011|year=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-106-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068/page/294 294]–}}</ref> Makara is the most commonly recurring creature in Hindu and Buddhist [[Hindu temple architecture|temple iconography]], in which makara are considered guardians of gateways and thresholds, protecting throne rooms as well as entryways to temples; and also frequently appears as a [[Gargoyle|spout]] attached to a water source.

Makara is also the insignia of the love god [[Kamadeva]], who has no dedicated temples and is also known as ''Makaradhvaja'', "one whose flag depicts a makara".<ref name="Beer2003" /> Makara-shaped earrings called ''Makarakundalas'' are sometimes worn by the Hindu gods, for example [[Shiva]],<ref name="Rosen2009" /><ref>''The Asian Civilisations Museum A-Z Guide to its Collections''. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2003, p. 300.</ref> the Destroyer, or the Preserver-god [[Vishnu]], the Sun god [[Surya]], and the Mother Goddess [[Chandi]]. [[Lakshmi]]'s depiction of sitting on a lotus in which she pulls the tongue of the elephant shaped makara is meant to project Lakshmi's image as the goddess of prosperity, wealth and well-being.<ref name="Rosen2009">{{cite book|author=Brenda Rosen|title=The Mythical Creatures Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Beings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mI0vKhZXJqwC&pg=PA136|access-date=17 January 2011|date=3 March 2009|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.|isbn=978-1-4027-6536-0|pages=136–}}</ref><ref name="Lenin">{{citation
|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article1092548.ece |title=My Husband and Other Animals - The beast within File:Makara Halebidu.jpg |author=Janaki Lenin | work= The Hindu, ARTS » HISTORY & CULTURE | publisher=Kasturi & Sons Ltd |date=2011-01-14|access-date=2011-01-14}}</ref><ref name="America1970">{{cite book|author=Archaeological Institute of America|pages=41–43|title=Archaeology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nt8sAAAAMAAJ|access-date=17 January 2011|year=1970|publisher=Archaeological Institute of America}}</ref>

==Crocodiles At Bhor Saidan==

===Crocodiles conservation facilities ===

The centre comprises wild water ponds which are is used to rear Indian Mugger crocodiles. Periphery has been fenced and a mound inside the pond was created to watch the crocodiles from the close range.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/kurukshetra_2009/Chapter_I.pdf |title=Revenue Department of Haryana Govt Gazetteers of Kurukshetra 2009: Chapter I |access-date=5 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090027/http://revenueharyana.gov.in/html/gazeteers/kurukshetra_2009/Chapter_I.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Bhor Saidan centre is run by a team of two Forests Department employees: one wildlife sub-inspector and one caretaker. Crocodiles are fed five to six tons of fish every month, which costs nearly INR 10,00,000 per year.<ref name=escape3/>

===Crocodiles population ===

In 2019, the crocodile population had increased to 32 including 15 female and 17 male.<ref name=escape3>[https://www.bhaskar.com/harayana/kurukshetra/news/haryana-news-bhar-sadan-crocodile-breeding-center-025647-3691922.html भौर सैदां मगरमच्छ प्रजनन केंद्र], Bhaskar, 2019.</ref> In 2014, the Crocodile Breeding Centre had 24 crocodiles including 10 male, 4 female and 10 young crocodiles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://haryanasamvad.gov.in/store/document/HR_Review_June_2012.pdf |title=Haryana Samvad June 2012 |access-date=5 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106004207/http://haryanasamvad.gov.in/store/document/HR_Review_June_2012.pdf |archive-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Genetic diversification ===

To enhance the [[genetic diversity]], 4 pairs of mugger crocodiles were brought from Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in 1991 for the first time. Thereafter, every year 2 to 3 muggers are brought from elsewhere and released at Bhor Saidan to enhance the genetic diversity.<ref name=escape3/>

== Conservation ==

===Threats ===

According to the [[Animal Diversity Web]], an online database of species distribution and conservation, the main threats to mugger crocodiles are the fragmentation and loss of natural habitat, the use of crocodile parts for medicinal purposes. drowning in fishing nets, stealing of eggs by people for food, and closure of several crocodile breeding facilities which use to breed crocodile and incubate crocodile eggs to increase the crocodile population.<ref name=wild1/>

===Escape of Crocodiles and man-wildlife conflict ===

Around the mid-1980s, during the flood caused by the heavy rains several crocodiles escaped from the ''Bhor Saidan Crocodile Farm'' to nearby ''Saraswati drain'' and several villages have now become the habitat of escaped stray crocodiles that are caught from time to time in the nearby villages such as Mukimpura (1 km from Bhor Saidan Crocodile Breeding Centre) and Dabkheri (12 km from Bhor Saidan Crocodile Breeding Centre).<ref name=tribbhor1>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/community/crocodile-rescued-in-kurukshetra/279562.html Crocodile rescued in Kurukshetra, The Tribune news service, 12 Aug 2016]</ref> From 2010 to 2016, 7 escaped crocodiles were caught in 6 years including 4 from the pond of Mukimpura and 3 from the [[Sutlej Yamuna link canal|SYL canal]] siphon 11 km from Bhor Saidan between Dabkheri and [[Jyotisar]].<ref name=escape2>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/wildlife-staff-rescues-crocodile-from-village/articleshow/53679079.cms Wildlife staff rescues crocodile from village], Times of India, 13 August 2016.</ref> In June 2019, a 12-feet mugger was caught from Dabkheri SYL canal siphon by Haryana Forests Department with the help of nets, after its sightings had sparked the fears of man-crocodile conflict.<ref name=escape1>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/crocodile-rescued-from-satluj-yamuna-link-canal/articleshow/69998343.cms Kurukshetra: Crocodile rescued from Satluj-Yamuna Link canal], Times of India, 29 June 2019.</ref> Captured crocodiles were released in the Bhor Saidan Crocodile Breeding Centre.<ref name=escape2/><ref name=escape1/>

There is no systematic and scientific project to care for these crocodiles and to educated the villagers of the affected villages on the man-crocodile conflict management.

=== Crocodile adoption scheme ===

In 2015, [[Forests Department, Haryana]] launched a scheme for individuals, organizations and corporations to adopt animals in state's zoos and breeding centres, including at Bhor Saidan Crocodile Center.<ref name=Adopt1>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Haryana-govt-launches-adoption-scheme-for-birds-and-animals/articleshow/49247226.cms Haryana govt launches adoption scheme for birds and animals, Times of India, 6-Oct-2016]</ref><ref name=Adopt2>[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/haryana-government-starts-scheme-for-adoption-of-wild-animals-1225437 Haryana Government Starts Scheme for 'Adoption' of Wild Animals, NDTV, 2-Oct-2016]</ref>

This scheme has found no takers due to the poor management and lack of follow up efforts by the Haryana Forests Department.

===Improvements required in the conservation effort ===
[[File:Mugger crocodile Crocodylus palustris (2155269175).jpg|thumb|right|240px|Mugger crocodile.]]

As of June 2021, there is no approved project to re-commence external intervention (e.g. artificial incubation of the eggs) and reintroduction of mugger and [[gharial]] in the water bodies of Haryana or nearby states with share the water bodies and borders with Haryana.

Each adult female crocodile at the Bhor Saidan Centre lays 25 to 30 eggs usually between 15 April to 15 May, based on which the number of surviving crocodiles is low.<ref name=escape3/> Since 2004, citing the overcrowding as a reason the caretakers at Bhor Saidan Crocodile Breeding Centre have stopped the external intervention for conservation e.g. artificial incubation of the eggs.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041208064709/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041201/main8.htm Crocodile boom a ‘gnawing’ problem], Tribune News Servic, 30 November 2004.</ref> The Forests Department staff at centre cited 4 main causes of low crocodile population at Bhor Saidan Breeding Ccentre, i.e. lack of breeding area for laying eggs as there are only 2 water ponds with combined total area of 4 acre, eating of young crocodiles by other unrelated crocodiles, unsuitable climate as crocodile survival is threatened when climatic temperature drops below 5' C or rises above 38' C, and high human activity.<ref name=escape3/> This does not seem an acceptable excuse. Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT), located on 8.5 acre<ref name="nytimes"/> land half the size of Bhor Sidan's 15 acre,<ref name=croc1/> has over 450,000 annual visitors including 13794 foreign visitors,<ref name="nytimes">{{Cite news
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/03/science/saving-the-crocodile-and-putting-on-a-spectacular-show.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fScience%2fTopics%2fAnimals
|title=Saving the Crocodile and Putting on a Spectacular Show
|work=[[The New York Times]]
|access-date=30 Aug 2011
|first=Stephen
|last=Kinzer
|date=3 February 1998}}</ref><ref name="AnnualReport_2010-2011">{{Cite web
|url = http://www.madrascrocodilebank.org/cms/wp-content/themes/mcbt/annualreport_2010-2011.pdf
|title = Annual Report 2010‐2011
|work = Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Centre for Herpetology
|publisher = Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
|access-date = 28 Oct 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120515062846/http://www.madrascrocodilebank.org/cms/wp-content/themes/mcbt/annualreport_2010-2011.pdf
|archive-date = 15 May 2012
|url-status = dead
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> with world's largest collections of crocodiles, 2483 animals of 28 [[herpetology]] species, 14 species of crocodiles including 3 endangered native Indian crocodile species, 10 species of turtles, 3 species of snakes, and 1 species of lizard.<ref name="AnnualReport_2010-2011">{{Cite web
|url = http://www.madrascrocodilebank.org/cms/wp-content/themes/mcbt/annualreport_2010-2011.pdf
|title = Annual Report 2010‐2011
|work = Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Centre for Herpetology
|publisher = Madras Crocodile Bank Trust
|access-date = 28 Oct 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120515062846/http://www.madrascrocodilebank.org/cms/wp-content/themes/mcbt/annualreport_2010-2011.pdf
|archive-date = 15 May 2012
|url-status = dead
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref> Whereas mismanaged Bhor Saidan, which compared to MCBT has double the land size with very low human activity, has only 32 crocodiles belonging to only 1 species and rarely sees visitors due to the poor infrastructure and lack of long-term integrated conservation strategy.

Activists have demanded to increase the number and size of the water ponds, increase the size of conservation area, bring water bodies in nearby villages under the crocodile conservation effort, recommencement of artificial incubation of eggs, separation of youngs from adults to avoid being eaten, building natural and artificial temperature controlled habitat, building an interpretation and awareness centre, establishment of Haryana state centre of excellence for herpetology research and conservation, formulation of multi-department multi-state integrated herpetology conservation effort by breeding and releasing in various water bodies of Haryana and nearby states.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Large mugger crocodile.jpg|Adult male mugger crocodile

File:Mugger crocodile 2.JPG|Crocodiles in captivity

File:Mugger crocodile (Gando) in Chabahar, Iran- by Hadi Karimi.jpg|Mugger crocodile
</gallery>

==See also==

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Crocodiles in India]]
* [[List of protected areas of Haryana]]
* [[List of zoos in India]]
* [[List of national parks of India]]
* [[Wildlife sanctuaries of India]]
* [[Haryana Tourism]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==External links ==
* [https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Crocodylus_palustris/ Mugger (crocodylus palustris): Information sheet]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141105200932/http://www.kurukshetra.nic.in/tour/Religious/tirath/Kurukshetra/022-bhurisarva/index.htm Bhureeshwar Temple at Bhor Saidan - one of pilgrimage site inside the 48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra]

{{Zoos of India}}
{{Protected areas of Haryana}}
{{Protected Areas of India}}
{{National Parks of India}}
{{Asia topic|List of zoos in|title=Lists of zoos in Asia}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Haryana]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kurukshetra district]]
[[Category:1930s establishments in India]]
[[Category:Animal breeding organisations in India]]
[[Category:Crocodile farms]]

Crocodile Breeding Centre, Kurukshetra - Revision history

Raj kumar: made new entry.