Arrival, registration, and room check-in at CHARUSAT.
The annual field survey of Charotar’s marsh crocodiles.
For three days every winter, volunteer naturalists, university researchers, and village scouts join forces to document mugger crocodiles living alongside rural communities in Gujarat's wetland basin.
70
Participant limit for team safety
30+
Village irrigation tanks & ponds
250+
Crocodiles counted each census
12
Years of continuous ecological data
Background
Documenting human-crocodile coexistence in agricultural wetlands.
The Charotar region of Gujarat is characterized by a high density of village ponds, irrigation channels, and agricultural wetlands. It is also home to one of the healthiest inland populations of the Marsh Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in India.
Remarkably, these animals inhabit village tanks where local residents bathe buffaloes, fish, and wash clothes. Launched in 2013 by the Voluntary Nature Conservancy (VNC), the Charotar Crocodile Count brings together students, wildlife biologists, and citizen volunteers to systematically count individuals, map basking sites, and gauge breeding patterns across Anand and Kheda districts.
The survey is co-hosted with Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), with past and present support from the Rufford Foundation and Duleep Matthai Nature Conservation Trust.
Program
Three-day field schedule
Teams are accompanied at all times by experienced VNC field biologists and local guides.
Day 1
2027-01-08
09:00
10:30
Field safety orientation, species identification, and GPS methodology.
14:00
Team assignments and initial sector reconnaissance.
17:00
Dusk survey at primary village ponds.
19:30
Welcome dinner and opening remarks by Chief Guest Dr. Steven Platt.
Day 2
Saturday, 9 Jan 2027
05:45
Field team departure for dawn basking survey.
09:30
Breakfast in designated village clusters.
11:00
Data collation, map updates, and team discussions at basecamp.
18:00
Night eyeshine survey using high-output spotlights.
21:00
Late debrief and data log reconciliation.
Day 3
2027-01-10
06:00
Follow-up observation walk on select water bodies.
10:30
Census presentation: total tally, size classes, and habitat observations.
12:30
Concluding session and certificate distribution.
14:00
Lunch and departure.
Guest Scientist & Mentor
Dr. Steven G. Platt
Associate Conservation Zoologist • IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group
Dr. Steven Platt brings over 30 years of field research in crocodilian ecology, conservation biology, and wildlife management across Southeast Asia and the Americas. He earned his doctorate studying Morelet's Crocodile ecology in Belize and has led critical field projects for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Dr. Platt has mentored generations of field biologists worldwide and joins CCC to instruct volunteers on rigorous observational survey techniques, behavioral logging, and ethical handling in human-dominated landscapes.
“Sound conservation policy begins with counting accurately. Engaging community volunteers in real, unglamorous field data collection builds long-term local stewardship.”
Participation
Registration form
Complete your details below. Payment is processed securely via Razorpay to confirm your seat.
Information
Frequently asked questions
Can students or non-biologists apply?
Yes. CCC is designed as a citizen-science census. Every team is led by a trained researcher who demonstrates data logging and safety procedures. Enthusiasm and respect for wildlife are the primary prerequisites.
Where do participants stay?
Accommodation is provided in clean, student-hostel or guesthouse rooms on the CHARUSAT campus in Changa. Rooms are assigned with separate facilities for male and female participants.
What clothing and shoes should I bring?
Bring neutral or earth-toned outdoor clothing (avoid bright whites or fluorescents), ankle-high walking shoes or field boots, and a warm fleece for the early morning. A headlamp or good torch is required for night surveys.
Is the registration fee refundable?
Fees are non-refundable once paid because logistics and field allocations are finalized immediately. You may transfer your seat to another eligible candidate up to 7 days before the count begins.