Island-wide survey finds crocodiles in more than half of the surveyed creeks; nearly 47% of the estimated population concentrated in Little Andaman and Nicobar division
Port Blair: The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has recorded 586 saltwater crocodiles during a pan-island population assessment across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, providing a detailed picture of the species’ distribution and population status in the archipelago.
The survey was carried out under the “Conservation and Management Plan of Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands” project, undertaken by WII on the directives of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO), in collaboration with the Andaman and Nicobar Forest Department.
Crocodiles found in 91 of 173 surveyed creeks
Researchers selected 176 creeks across the islands for the survey. Of these, 173 were successfully surveyed, while three could not be covered because of accessibility constraints.
Before the fieldwork began, 536 personnel were trained across nine forest divisions to assist with the population assessment.
The fieldwork was conducted in three closely spaced phases during February and March 2026. Researchers used a dependent double-observer method to count crocodiles and estimate the probability of detecting animals during the surveys.
Each site was surveyed four times—twice during the day and twice at night. This repeated-survey approach was used to improve detection and account for differences between observers.
According to the report, the minimum count, or “best count”, for each site was calculated as the maximum number of individual crocodiles observed cumulatively by both observers across the repeated surveys. The site-level counts were then added to derive a minimum estimate of the observed population.
The survey recorded 586 crocodiles across the 173 surveyed creeks. Crocodiles were detected in 91 creeks, accounting for 52.6% of the surveyed sites.
The assessment found that nearly 47% of the total estimated saltwater crocodile population was concentrated in the Little Andaman and Nicobar division, highlighting the importance of the region for conservation and management of the species.
The saltwater crocodile is the largest living crocodilian and occupies a variety of coastal habitats, including lagoons, deltas, estuaries, marshes and creeks.
Globally, Crocodylus porosus is distributed across the Indo-Pacific region. Along the eastern coast of the Indian subcontinent, the species occurs in three disjunct populations—in Odisha, West Bengal and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Survey aimed at reducing human-crocodile conflict
The island-wide assessment is also expected to support measures aimed at reducing human-crocodile conflict while strengthening conservation efforts.
Between 1983 and 2023, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands recorded 36 fatal and non-fatal human-crocodile conflict cases. Another study found that such conflict increased by 75% after the 2004 tsunami.
The latest assessment noted that nearly 75% of attacks and sightings occurred between June and December, which corresponds to the wet season in the islands.
Researchers have identified several factors associated with conflicts, including livestock kept close to crocodile habitats, dumping of protein-rich food near creeks and beaches—particularly in tourist areas—and unchecked human activity near crocodile habitats during the breeding season.
Authorities have asked researchers to investigate the reasons behind the reported rise in human-crocodile conflict following the 2004 tsunami.
The findings of the population assessment are expected to provide a scientific basis for future saltwater crocodile conservation, habitat management and conflict-mitigation measures across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The study is intended to help authorities balance the protection of the saltwater crocodile population with measures to safeguard communities and visitors living and travelling near crocodile habitats.
