Thiruvananthapurams memorial to Crocodile Hunter

The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated about 30 kilometers east of Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram, has thrown open a new crocodile research centre set up in memory of Australian crocodile hunter and animal conservationist Steve Irwin, to the public.

Thiruvananthapuram, July 13 : The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated about 30 kilometers east of Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram, has thrown open a new crocodile research centre set up in memory of Australian crocodile hunter and animal conservationist Steve Irwin, to the public.

The reservoir boasts that the Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre is the first instance in the world of a government body being named a memorial after Irwin.

The Neyyar Dam already has a lion safari park, a deer park and boating facilities, besides one of the biggest landscaped gardens. The authorities hope the Centre will attract more tourists to the Neyyar Dam.

Forty-four-year-old Irwin died on September 4, 2006 when a stingray barb pierced his chest while he was filming a nature documentary off Port Douglas in North Queensland.

A life-size plaque of Irwin with a crocodile at the entrance of the centre greets visitors.

Set up by the Department of Forests and Wildlife at Markunnam, the centre was inaugurated by State Forest Minister Benoy Viswom in May.

Viswom said Kerala is the first State in India to set up a memorial for Irwin.

The centre has been set up as per the guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority. The 2.5 hectares of land houses marsh and mugger crocodiles found in the marshlands of the area.

It has been thrown open to the public now after more muggers were shifted to the centre from an adjacent crocodile farm.

The crocodile farm was started in 1977 near the forest's boat club in Neyyar as part of a national programme to conserve crocodiles. At present, there are 44 muggers in the crocodile farm.

The 128 sqkm Neyyar Sanctuary occupies a beautiful wooded and hilly landscape, dominated by the peak of Agasthya malai.

Wildlife includes gaur, sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, jungle cat and Nilgiri langur but most commonly seen animals are wild elephants and sambar deer.

ANI