Chennai: An endangered female Tomistoma
crocodile was transported by Air India from Kamala Nehru Zoo
in Ahmedabad to Chennai Friday.
An airline press release said the reptile, known as the
False Gharial, was brought here 'free-of-cost' as a goodwill
gesture,in support of the cause of protection of such species.
Air India's gesture follows a request from Madras Crocodile
Bank Trust, home to many crocodiles, to help transport it to
the city to pair with only male crocodile 'Psycho', it said.
The airline said it had followed all IATA rules for
transporting live animals.
'Tomistoma', a five metre crocodile, is widely found in
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. It preys on a variety of
animals, including fish and mammals upto the size of a small
antelope. Their numbers have dwindled to less than 2,500 due
to logging, habitat destruction, over fishing and being caught
and trapped in fishing nets.
PTI
First Published: Friday, April 16, 2010, 17:39