Nest Attendance and Hatching Care in Wild Marsh Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) in Kochchipathana Tank, Yala, Sri Lanka

This study investigates the behavior of wild marsh crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) in Yala, Sri Lanka, focusing on nesting behavior and intruder dynamics using a trail camera. A burrow near Kochchipatana Tank was monitored over 72 days, documenting the frequency of four distinct behaviors: nest guarding (GR), burrow digging (DI), entry into the burrow (MO), and chasing intruders (CS). guarding behavior (GR) was the most frequent, with 133,880 occurrences, while CS was the least observed. Behavioral changes before and after hatching revealed a significant decline in GR post-hatching, though statistical analysis using Chi-Square tests showed no significant difference in behavioral frequencies between the two stages. Monitoring nest intruders recorded 12 species, including predators like the gray mongoose (Urva edwardsii) and domestic animals such as cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris), highlighting potential anthropogenic pressures on the nesting site. These findings emphasize the critical role of nest guarding in reproductive success and point to the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate the impacts of human and predator interference. Future research should explore the long-term effects of environmental stressors and intruder interactions on reproductive success.