The Kolhapur forest department successfully rescued two crocodiles in separate incidents on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning from Panhala and Shirol tehsils, averting potential danger to local residents. The reptiles were later safely released into their natural habitat.
First Rescue in Panhala
In the first incident, a five-foot-long crocodile was rescued from a well at Sathve Tarf Shindewadi village in Panhala tehsil. The crocodile was discovered in a well belonging to farmer Sandeep Shinde, prompting villagers to alert the forest department at noon on Tuesday. A Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team was immediately dispatched to the location.
Range Forest Officer Ajit Mali stated, "The water from the well was pumped out using a motor pump, after which the one-year-old crocodile was found stuck in silt at the bottom. Rescue team members descended into the well using rappelling techniques and captured the crocodile with a net, despite poor visibility caused by the silt. After a medical examination confirmed it was healthy, the crocodile was released into its natural habitat."
Forest officials noted that it remains unclear how the reptile entered the well.
Second Rescue in Shirol
In a second incident, an eight-foot crocodile entered a residential area at Laxmipuri, along the Abdullat-Herwad road in Herwad village of Shirol tehsil, late on Tuesday night. Forest officials from the Karvir range, with assistance from members of the World Wildlife Conservation Society, carried out the rescue and safely relocated the crocodile.
Public Advisory
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Kolhapur), Dhairyasheel Patil, urged people to report sightings of wild animals in distress immediately. "People should contact the nearest forest office or call the forest department's toll-free number 1926 if any wild animal is seen in an urban area," he said.
These incidents highlight the importance of prompt reporting and coordinated rescue efforts to ensure both human safety and wildlife conservation.
