Panic spread through Gupti village in Odisha's Kendrapada district this week after residents discovered a massive saltwater crocodile lurking in a local pond. The sighting near the Bhitarkanika National Park triggered alarm, leading to a swift response from forest authorities.
Four-Hour Operation Leads to Safe Capture
The dramatic incident unfolded on Tuesday afternoon when locals spotted the reptile. A team of six forest personnel from the Rajnagar forest range then engaged in a challenging four-hour operation on Wednesday to secure the animal.
The 11-foot-long male crocodile was successfully netted without any injuries to itself or the team. Following the capture, it was transported and released into the Bausagada river, its natural habitat.
High Tide Likely Cause of Straying
Forest Range Officer of Rajnagar, Chittaranjan Beura, provided insights into the probable cause. He stated that the crocodile likely crossed the river bank and entered the village pond during a high tide event. Reassuring the public, he confirmed that the crocodile did not attack any humans during its time near the village.
A Recurring Pattern in Bhitarkanika
This event is not an isolated one. Officials confirmed this is the seventh such case of a crocodile straying into human-inhabited areas around Bhitarkanika within just six months.
The previous incident was reported on November 11 at Alava village, where a 10-foot-long crocodile was captured from a pond. Before that, on October 16, a crocodile was caught from a pond in Pentha village.
The series of incidents includes:
- A capture from a pond at Duttapur village under Mahakalapada forest range on October 11.
- Another crocodile captured from a pond at Endalapur village on July 26.
- A straying crocodile secured from a pond at Dangamal village on June 17.
This pattern highlights the ongoing challenge of human-animal conflict in the regions surrounding the ecologically rich Bhitarkanika National Park, home to a large population of saltwater crocodiles.
