Odisha's albino saltwater crocodile has turned 51 — marking a milestone for India's crocodile protection program.
Here's what to know
In Odisha's Bhitarkanika, the white saltwater crocodile Gori has survived since 1975. Hatched from an egg collected in the wild, she has lived her entire life under human care at the Dangmal crocodile research centre.
According to Moneycontrol, Gori is India's first-ever albino crocodile, making her one of the area's best-known crocodiles.
The conservation program was initiated in 1975 and has helped transform the crocodile population from just 96 saltwater crocodiles in 1974 to around 1,826 reptiles in January 2025.
More background
Bhitarkanika is one of India's most crucial habitats for saltwater crocodiles, with its mangrove forests, rivers, and tidal creeks.
The saltwater crocodile species was close to extinction in the region. Thanks to decades of breeding, habitat protection, and massive conservation efforts, that trajectory has changed dramatically, bringing new challenges.
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Now that crocodile numbers are higher, authorities must not only monitor their habitat but also manage human-crocodile encounters.
Where can I learn more?
Gori's story is a prime example of what steady conservation work can achieve over time. These articles cover other crocodile recoveries, along with efforts to protect the reptiles from new threats.
• In Cambodia, one of Earth's rarest reptiles is staging an improbable return.
• In Cambodia, once-extinct apex predator hatchlings mark a landmark step toward recovery.
• In Western Australia, a bad late-night takeaway is helping spare crocodiles toxic cane toads.
• Across ecosystems, when conservation actions work, threatened plants and animals can rebound dramatically.
• In Mozambique, a significant conservation success is rebuilding black rhino numbers through translocation.
This shows that long-running protection programs can keep endangered species alive and give them room to recover.
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