Freshwater Crocodile Rediscovered in Padma River
A dramatic and unexpected nature-revelation emerged on October 16 2025, when wildlife photographers captured evidence of a freshwater crocodile in Bangladesh’s Padma River — a species long thought extinct in the country. The discovery has given conservationists hope and sparked urgency for protective action.
A Chance Encounter That Rewrote Wildlife Records
What began as a bird-photography outing to Char Majhardia on the banks of the Padma turned into a landmark discovery. Imrul Kayes and his wife Umme Khadiza Eva, both wildlife photographers and former students of RU, had travelled to the region to photograph a rare bird. But on the very same day, news came via a local herder’s call to emergency helpline 999: a crocodile sighting in the Padma.
The couple, already at the location, set off on a 15-kilometre trek through mud and water. Their drone finally revealed the reptile, and Eva captured it on camera. The species: a freshwater crocodile (also known as the mugger, Mugger Crocodile, Crocodylus palustris), a creature officially declared regionally extinct in Bangladesh since 2000.
Why This Sighting Matters
The rediscovery of a species believed lost carries large ecological and symbolic weight. Experts say:
The freshwater crocodile had been declared regionally extinct in Bangladesh by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) after a national survey in 2000 found no evidence of its continuing existence.
Historically, this crocodile was once seen in the major rivers of Bangladesh — the Padma, Jamuna and Meghna — but population collapse occurred by the mid-20th century due to hunting, habitat loss and conflict.
The sighting could indicate one of two possibilities: either a solitary migrant from India’s river systems (especially Chambal) or an undetected remnant population in Bangladesh. Some experts lean toward the migratory scenario, given the large size and adult status of the animal.
It opens questions about the health of the river ecosystem — top predators like crocodiles often serve as indicators of ecological resilience. DWell-documented, the presence of such a reptile suggests better-than-expected ecological conditions in that river segment.
What We Know of the Individual
According to a report in Daily Star, photographer Kayes described the animal: “One distinct characteristic is that the two lower teeth remain visible outside the jaw.” He estimated it to be a male adult of over 20 years.
The footage suggests it may not be native to Bangladesh, perhaps migrating from Indian waters. In other records, crustacean or fish prey may sustain such creatures — but in Bangladeshi rivers, direct data is scarce.
Local Response & Conservation Stakes
The sighting immediately triggered alerts across local communities and forest officials. In neighbouring Manikganj’s Tantrakhola canal, further reports appeared of crocodile presence in October 2025. Locals reported altered behaviour—some stopped bathing or fishing near the riverbank.
Forest officers confirmed the species and initiated awareness efforts:
Ensuring locals don’t harm the crocodile if it comes ashore to bask.
Educating river-users on coexistence practices.
Monitoring the spot for further sightings and collecting ecological data.
The risk to the individual is high. When winter approaches, the crocodile will need to bask in sunlight to regulate body temperature — making it vulnerable to human disturbance, retaliation or accidental harm. Conservationists emphasize that lack of sun-access can in fact be fatal for such reptiles.
Implications for Bangladesh’s Wildlife Heritage
This rediscovery has broader significance for Bangladesh:
It challenges the status of the freshwater crocodile on the country’s extinct species list. Authorities may need to update their database to reflect the possibility of remnant population or natural re-colonisation.
It raises the profile of riverine biodiversity in the Padma basin — notably including other threatened species like the gharial and several river dolphins.
It underscores the urgency of protecting river habitats, controlling sand-mining, managing fishing practices and mitigating human-wildlife conflict along major rivers.
It illustrates that citizen-led conservation (via photographers, bird-watchers and locals) can lead to impactful discoveries and drive policy attention.
What Needs to Be Done
Conservationists highlight a multi-pronged roadmap:
Comprehensive survey: Use drones, traps, camera-traps and river-walks to determine whether this crocodile is alone or part of a small population.
Public awareness programmes: Especially for local fisherfolk, bathers and riverside communities to ensure human safety and crocodile protection.
Legal protection & habitat management: Integrate the find into the national Wildlife Conservation Act, protect basking sites and regulate river-use zones.
Regional collaboration: Considering possible migration from India, bilateral data-sharing with Indian river authorities may help track movements and genetics.
Monitoring and research: Support academic and field-based research into river-ecology, prey-base health and impacts of river alteration.
Challenges and Cautions
While the sighting is cause for hope, several caveats apply:
One individual does not equal a sustainable population — a lone animal cannot secure species recovery.
The large river channel and shifting chars of the Padma make systematic observation hard.
Local fear and misunderstanding may lead to harm; some sightings in past years led to attempted capture or killing.
Habitat threats remain acute: sand-extraction, channeling, pollution, irrigation and climate change all continue to degrade river ecosystems.
Bangladesh’s River Guardians Must Act
For decades, rivers like the Padma have borne the brunt of human pressure. The reappearance of a crocodile declared extinct is a reminder: these waters still hold secrets and can regenerate life if given space.
As Prof M Monirul H. Khan of Jahangirnagar University noted, “Regions along the Padma River are crucial for crocodiles, gharials and waterbirds. Conserving these areas as protected zones could allow species once lost to return naturally.”
Conclusion
What began as a bird-watching outing near Char Majhardia has rekindled hope for Bangladesh’s wildlife heritage. The rediscovery of a freshwater crocodile in the Padma River is not just a quirky footnote — it is a signal. A signal that nature is resilient, that extinct-status does not always mean final, and that even major rivers flow with uncertainty and possibility.
For Bangladesh, the task now is to transform this moment into momentum: to safeguard the crocodile, protect its habitat, educate local communities, and re-ignite pride in river-wildlife co-existence. If we act wisely, the Padma’s banks may once again echo with the slow, sun-soaked presence of a crocodile — a living link between past, present and wild future.
