RANTHAMBORE Mugger (marsh crocodile) in Ranthambore
Mugger (marsh crocodile) (Crocodylus palustris): The three lakes and the larger waterholes; the Chakal river in zone 9.
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In one line: Mugger (marsh crocodile) (Crocodylus palustris) — IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. The three lakes and the larger waterholes; the Chakal river in zone 9.
| Scientific name | Crocodylus palustris |
| IUCN status (global) | Vulnerable |
| Legal protection in India | Schedule I. |
| Where our guides see it most | zone 3 (Padam Talao and Rajbagh), zone 4 (Malik Talao and Lakarda), zone 9 (Kuwalji) |
“Where our guides see it most” is a habitat pattern from our own safaris in recent seasons, not a live location. Content checked 4 November 2026.
Identification
A broad-snouted crocodile up to 4–5 m; dark olive, basking with the mouth open to cool.
Habitat in Ranthambore
The three lakes and the larger waterholes; the Chakal river in zone 9.
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Check my date on WhatsAppBehaviour
Basks on the banks in the cool months; takes fish, birds and the occasional deer at the water’s edge.
When to look
Winter mornings on the banks of Padam Talao, Rajbagh and Malik Talao, when they bask.
Worth knowing
Machli famously killed a large mugger at the lakes in 2003; big individuals exceed 4 metres.
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Check my date on WhatsAppPhotography
Reflections at first light on the lakes; a 200–400 mm lens is plenty.
Conservation
Schedule I. Status is the IUCN Red List global category; it describes the species worldwide, not the Ranthambore population.
Questions
Do crocodiles attack tigers?
Rarely. Machli famously killed a large mugger in 2003, and Arrowhead killed one in June 2025, days before she died.
Other wildlife of Ranthambore
Bengal tiger · Indian leopard · Sloth bear · Striped hyena · Golden jackal · Sambar deer · Chital (spotted deer) · Nilgai (blue bull) · Wild boar · Chinkara (Indian gazelle) · Hanuman langur · Red-headed vulture · Indian peafowl · Caracal
Dated sightings archive
Verified entries for this species from our sightings archive: dated, zone-level, sourced. Not a live position.
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Sources and how we know
Species facts follow standard references (IUCN Red List, the Wildlife Institute of India and NTCA status reports). “Where our guides see it most” is our drivers’ own experience from recent seasons: a habitat pattern, never a live location or a promise.
- Research IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global categories)
- Research Status of Tigers in India 2022: summary report (NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India)
- Official National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Government of India
- Official Rajasthan Forest Department
- Press “Most photographed tigress Machli dies at Ranthambore”, PTI via Business Standard, 18 Aug 2016
- Press “Famous Ranthambhore tigress Arrowhead dies of brain tumour”, PTI via The Week, 19 Jun 2025
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