A giant saltwater crocodile was spotted in a canal in a village in close proximity of Odisha’s Bhitarkanika national park on Monday morning. The reptile was later captured by forest officials and safely released into its natural habitat.
The 16-foot-long male crocodile was netted from the canal at Jarimula village in Odisha’s Kendrapara district after a four-hour-long operation involving six forest personnel. The reptile was subsequently released into the Patasala River within the national park, Rajnagar Forest Range Officer Chittaranjan Beura said.
“The crocodile neither attacked anyone nor sustained any injury during the rescue operation. It is suspected to have entered the canal from a nearby river during high tide,” Beura said.
The sighting drew large crowds, as curious villagers gathered at the spot to watch the rescue operation. Some of them clicked photographs along with the captured reptile before it was taken away by forest officials.
According to forest authorities, crocodiles frequently stray into village ponds, creeks and canals from nearby rivers. Residents have been advised to be cautious while using water bodies. Barricades have been installed at several river and pond ghats around the Bhitarkanika national party to reduce the risk of crocodile attacks.
Local residents believe that the rising number of salt-water crocodiles could be one of the reasons for the increase in such straying incidents in the villages around the national park.