ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130 ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239 Captive Breeding and Conservation Status of Marsh Crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) in New Jatoi Farm Naushehroferoze, Sindh, Pakistan Muhammad Saleem Chang *,** , Ghulam Sarwar Gachal * and Khadim Hussain Memon *** * Department of Zoology, University of Sindh Jamshoro, 76080, Sindh, Pakistan. ** Department of Science & Technical Education, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. *** Department of Zoology, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. (Corresponding author: Muhammad Saleem Chang) (Received 17 July, 2017, Accepted 16 September, 2017) (Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net) ABSTRACT: A study on captive breeding and conservation status of Marsh Crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) in New Jatoi Farm Naushehroferoze was undertaken during the years 2011-2015. To achieve this objective the study monitored the current population status, feeding, reproductive mode and measurements of hatchling, juvenile, adult and size of eggs. The observation revealed that the total numbers of Marsh Crocodiles were counted 133 in the New Jatoi Farm, among them 20 males and 25 females in Pond-1 were adults, 44 were juveniles in Pond-2, and 76 hatchlings in Pond-3 were counted. With a view to study the breeding behavior, twenty two adult females were observed to lay the eggs per female/per year. However, the breeding habitat of NJF for Crocodiles as observed in subsequent years was found productive and the number of eggs per clutch was recorded as in F-01. 23±2.73, F-02. 25.8±3.42, F-03. 25±3.16, F-04. 25.8±2.86, F-05. 26.2±3.70, F-06. 23.4±4.92, F-07. 25.8±3.27, F-08. 25.2±4.54, F-09. 26.2±2.77, F-10. 26.6±2.88, F-11. 25.6±3.04, F-12. 24.4±4.27, F-13. 26.6±3.04, F-14. 26.4±3.91, F-15. 24.6±4.27, F-16. 25.6±2.96, F-17. 25.4±3.36, F-18. 24.6±3.64, F-19. 26.2±1.48, F-20. 26.2±2.38, F-21. 25±3.16, and F-22. 24.4±3.36, respectively. We selected one hundred eggs randomly and measured the length 65.7 ± 0.74 (mm), Width 41 ± 0.87 (mm) and weight 165.56 ± 4.09 (g), respectively. Further distribution of this species was made to NJF in order to find out suitable habitat for its captive breeding. Since then, the performance of breeding was closely observed and found result in the total stock 133 individuals in NJF. Hatching rate of the species has been recorded low because only less numbers of eggs were hatched due to less availability of space in the ecological condition of three ponds in NJF. Keywords: Captive breeding, Conservation, Status, Marsh Crocodiles, Habitat. INTRODUCTION New Jatoi Farm is located about 15 km away from Moro in district Naushehroferoze at 25° 22' 20'' N, 68° 24' 50'' E. NJF is non-profit private farm which was established by local landlord. The muggers were kept in captive in NJF before 1970s and were able to rebuild populations, provide muggers for restocking elsewhere, and resort eventually to farming the Crocodiles. The wildlife farming is a need for private individuals to complement such efforts for conservation of economically important animals. The best ways of achieving to increase wildlife population is by encouraging local community and organizations to participate in wildlife farming and captive management of some wild animal species like as Crocodiles. All wild mugger populations are legally protected, and management programs intended to restore populations have been very successful (Cox and Rahman, 1994). Widespread captive breeding populations have restocked wild populations and now have a surplus of captive-bred crocodiles as suitable habitat is limited (Cox and Rahman, 1994). For several animal species the period between mating and egg laying in recognized to be about 3-6 weeks but longer periods have been described (Cardeilhac and Larsen, 1981). In the crocodilian population the breeding starts in the months of summer from late June to July and female lays 25-30 eggs (Whitaker and Whitaker, 1989). Biological Forum – An International Journal 9(2): 217-223(2017)