More croc babies from Juliet, Pilpil coming

Several crocodile hatchlings may hatch from Juliet's eggs in the last week of August. And, some of them will be available in September from the eggs Pilpil will lay next week, the department of forest says. 

Earlier, 195 crocodile hatchlings, 302 turtles and 37 deer were born in the country's sole animal reproductive centre in Karamjal in the Sundarbans. 

Romeo's mate Juliet laid 52 eggs at the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre last month. 36 eggs have been kept in the incubator and 14 are in a mount nest in the natural environment. The forest department hopes that several crocodile hatchlings will be available on August 25 or 26.

Hawladar Azad Kabir, officer-in-charge of Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre, said it usually takes 75 to 90 days to hatch a baby from a crocodile's egg. 

"Of the crocodile babies born earlier, 98 have been released into various rivers flowing through the Sundarbans," Hawladar Azad Kabir added.

Tourist Majira Khatun went to the tourist point of Karamjal to learn about crocodiles, deer and crabs. She was fascinated by the deer walking by people without fear.

"If I hadn't come here, I wouldn't have known that forest animals can behave like human beings," said Majira Khatun.

"Surprisingly, the crocodile can understand the words and signs of the forest department officials, for example, I was surprised when Juliet and Pilpil came out of the pond when Azad Kabir called," she said.

Coordinator Nur Alam Sheikh of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) of Bagerhat District suggested taking initiatives to attract more tourists to the Sundarbans. 

There is no good place for tourists to stay, and the food is not good either. If the transportation was better, more tourists would come to the Sundarbans and the government could earn more revenue, he added.