BAGERHAT, April 27, 2023 (BSS) - A female crocodile in a pond at the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R) in Bagerhat has laid eggs.

The crocodile laid around 50-60 eggs, about a month ago. "The crocodile has been basking in the scorching heat of the Sun and laid its eggs near house of Bina Fakir on the east bank of the Dighi. It came to our knowledge just a few days ago," said Shar Ali Fakir, head khadem of the shrine.

However, there are concerns about whether the eggs will be hatched. Though the mother crocodile laid eggs many times before, no baby hatched from the eggs, he said.

Crocodile experts believe that male crocodiles have lost their fertility due to their age.

Officials of Bagerhat District Animal Resources Department and Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center have worked to investigate the reason why the eggs did not hatch despite laying eggs repeatedly.

"There are two marsh crocodiles in the pond now, one is male and the other is female. After trying them for breeding through both natural and artificial means for years, we were not successful to hatch babies from the eggs,'' said Bagerhat District Livestock officials.

Azad Kabir, officer-in-charge of the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Center of Sundarban East Forest Division, said there is a possibility that the fertility of the male crocodile can reduce due to not having a good environment.

However, if two young male and female crocodiles are released into the pond, hatching is possible, he said.