Lagatar24 Desk
Vadodara: In Vadodara, Gujarat, forest officials have rescued 24 crocodiles from residential areas between August 27 and 29, as heavy rains caused the Vishwamitri River to overflow. The rising water levels led to the displacement of these reptiles from their natural habitat, forcing them into nearby neighborhoods.
The Vishwamitri River, which flows through Vadodara, is home to approximately 440 crocodiles. During periods of flooding, often caused by water releases from the Ajwa dam, these reptiles frequently move into residential areas, according to Vadodara Range Forest Officer Karansinh Rajput.
“In addition to the 24 crocodiles, we also rescued 75 other animals, including snakes, cobras, five large turtles weighing nearly 40 kilograms, and a porcupine during this three-day period,” Rajput stated. He noted that many residential areas are situated close to the river, increasing the likelihood of such encounters during floods.
The smallest crocodile rescued was two feet long, while the largest, a massive 14-foot reptile, was captured on Thursday in Kamnath Nagar, a neighborhood near the river. Alerted by local residents, forest officials also rescued two other sizable crocodiles, each 11 feet long, from EME Circle and an open area near the Zoology Department of MS University.
Despite the close proximity of these crocodiles to human populations, no incidents of crocodile-human conflict were reported during the rescue operations, Rajput confirmed. He explained that crocodiles typically do not attack humans, as they primarily feed on fish and animal carcasses in the river. Occasionally, they may prey on smaller animals like dogs or pigs, and a recent video showing such an encounter went viral.
With the water level in the Vishwamitri River now receding, the rescued crocodiles and other reptiles will be returned to their natural habitat.
