Kendrapada: An eight-foot long crocodile that had strayed into a village pond in Kendrapada has been captured by Odisha forest department officials. Nobody was harmed by the animal, officials said.
The incident comes days after a chilling video of a woman being dragged into a river by a crocodile in Odisha went viral. The woman, identified as Soudamini Mahala, was bathing in the Kharasrota River in the state’s Jajpur district when she was attacked.
The animal at Kendrapada was a saltwater crocodile that had strayed into a pond in the Duttapur village under Mahakalapada forest range within Bhitarkanika National Park.
Some villagers spotted the female crocodile in the pond and informed forest officials. A team of five forest personnel rushed to Duttapur village and netted the reptile in a gruelling operation which lasted four hours.
Mahakalapada range officer Santanu Kumar Dalei said the crocodile is suspected to have crossed the river bank and entered the pond during high tide.
“We rescued the crocodile and kept it in the forest office before transporting it. The reptile was first taken for a round of medical tests. Later, it was released in the nearby Patasala river within the park,” he said.
“Crocodiles often enter village ponds from the nearby rivers. The forest department has built many barricades in rivers and ponds around Bhitarkanika to prevent crocodiles from attacking anyone. We have also advised villagers to remain careful and avoid entering the water beyond the barricaded areas,” Dalei added.
A crocodile that had started into the Endalapur village was captured on July 26. On June 17, a crocodile was captured from the Dangamal village.
