Odel to save crocodiles for World Animal Day
They may be as Sri Lankan as we are, but our crocodiles are in danger of becoming extinct, and the country’s fashion retailer Odel has decided to weigh-in on their side by supporting the first ever census in the country of these aquatic tetrapods.
Towards this end, Odel’s flasgship store at Alexandra Place has set up a special display and product range that will be in place till October 4, World Animal Day, to raise funds for the cause.
On sale is a special World Animal Day 2013 collection of T shirts for men, ladies, children and even babies, as well as a range of mugs, caps and soft toys. The proceeds from the sale of these items will contribute towards the costs of conducting the census conducted by the Crocodile Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as part of conservation efforts.
Sri Lanka is home to the freshwater crocodile Crocodylus palustris, known as the ‘Mugger’ and as Häla Kimbula or Äle Kimbula in Sinhala, and the saltwater or estuarine crocodile Crocodylus porosus (G ta Kimbula or Pita getaya) that lives in fresh water tidal rivers, man-made streams, estuaries, brackish lagoons and marshes.
A combination of factors, including the use of freshwater reservoirs for fish cultivation, the drainage of wetlands and clearance of riverside forests, bulldozing of river and tank bunds during renovation, the pollution of waterways with polythene and deliberate attacks, have resulted in crocodiles becoming a threatened species in Sri Lanka. “The greatest threat to both species in the past and present has been due to humans,” says Anslem De Silva, Chairman of the Crocodile Specialist Group for South Asia and Iran.
“The human crocodile conflict continues to deplete the country’s crocodile population, which is now estimated to be in the region of 3,500 freshwater crocodiles, and just 350 estuarine crocodiles,” Odel founder and CEO Otara Gunewardene said.
Considered an apex predator or keystone species because it lived alongside dinosaurs, crocodiles are important to the country’s genetic pool and biodiversity. In addition to their ecological importance to our aquatic ecosystems, crocodiles could also be an important source of new medical discoveries, scientists say. Already, freeze-dried crocodile blood in capsule form is used in some countries to manage iron deficiency anaemia.
Odel’s World Animal Day 2013 stall in support of Sri Lankan crocodiles is located at the Atrium Lobby at the Alexandra Place store. The collection is also available at Odel stores at the Bandaranaike International Airport, at Panadura, Wattala and Kandy City Centre and at the ‘Luv SL’ stores at Queens Hotel Kandy and the Dutch Hospital complex in Colombo.