Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik has zeroed in on ‘Gori’, the female white crocodile, for the mascot of the National Youth Festival (NYF), 2010, official sources said.
Patnaik while chairing the first preparatory meeting for the festival scheduled to be held here from January 8 to 12 next, suggested name of the 34-year-old Gori, inhabiting the Bhitarakanika National Park in Kendrapara district, as the mascot.
Considered the world’s first captive white crocodile, Gori, the about 20 feet long reptile, was considered as an angry croc as she had refused mating all along her life.
“Gori had left at least three male white crocodiles injured when attempts were made for mating”, wildlife department sources said.
The female reptile had also sustained injury on her left eye during a clash with a male crocodile in 1998. Three unsuccessful attempts were made for mating with Gori in 1994, 1995 and 1998, the sources said.
While many at the meeting were of the view to make the world famous Sun Temple at Konark Temple as the mascot, Patnaik stressed on the white crocodile as many other national and international sporting events in the past had used animals as mascot.
