Gori lays eggs after 41 years in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jun 27:

After 41 long years, country’s only captive white crocodile Gori finally laid eggs at Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha’s Kendrapada district, a forest official said today.

According to sources, Gori laid around 40-42 eggs at the wildlife sanctuary between 2 pm to 5 pm yesterday.

Gori, who was born at Dangamala crocodile breeding center in 1975, had grabbed the attention of the world for being a whitish crocodile which is extremely rare around the globe. Scientists at the centre had named the female crocodile as ‘Gori’ for its ivory white complexion.

Worth mentioning, Gori had been waiting of an ideal mate for more than two and half decades at the breeding center. When Gori attained her adulthood in 1985, scientists created several opportunities for her to find a male partner and mate with him but in vain.

Gori had left at least three male white crocodiles injured when attempts were made for mating. Three unsuccessful attempts were made for mating with Gori in 1994, 1995 and 1998. The female reptile had sustained injury on her left eye during a clash with a male crocodile in 1998.

Notably, Gori was the mascot of Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi in 2010. The Odisha government had also chosen the animal as the mascot of National Youth Festival hosted in Bhubaneswar in 2010.