The population of crocodiles in the Vishwamitri river in Vadodara is large and is still growing. There are close to 204 crocodiles in the river and the recent flood has refreshed memories of 2005 when the reptiles had entered several homes.
During the recent floods in the river, there were cases when these crocodiles lost their way and entered places like fields, societies and roads. When water from Vishwamitri gushed into the city and residential colonies, six crocodiles also flowed in. Fire brigade personnel rescued a crocodile from Siddharth bungalows. It was one of the scariest rescue operations carried out by the personnel in the city.
When the fire brigade men were rescuing the stranded people, the crocodiles were following the rescue boats all the time. About six came in the colony after the wall of EME got washed away. The crocodiles didn't have any exit route from the colony so they kept moving around inside. However, they did not interfere with relief operations. The forest officials have launched the crocodile awareness campaign along the rivers in Vadodara ahead of the monsoons. Vadodara witnessed seven crocodile attacks on humans in Vishwamitri River and other water bodies in the last few months that led to panic among citizens. A baby crocodile lost its life when it strayed into a busy road. The body of a woman who was dragged away by a crocodile in Kashipura village has been found. Two other crocodiles that had strayed from Vishwamitri were captured from Kamatibaug area. The crocodiles were captured and will be released in safer locations.
The crocodiles which strayed into a residential society in Boriavi village of Anand district was rescued by officials of forest department and members of Nature Health Foundation (NHF).
There is no let-up in crocodile attacks on humans in Vadodara district. Last week, a 33-year-old man was pulled away by a crocodile in the village of Sinore taluka. Crocodile created panic in a village near Kota's Rampura as it entered a residential area. People caught it and handed it over to a forest department team. It is for the authorities to arrange for all such crocodiles to be shifted to Vishwamitri river for their natural habitat. In another case, locals were stunned to find a crocodile in a lake. Forest department officials were called in and they rescued the reptile.
River Vishwamitri should be declared as national habitat for crocodiles
Vishwamitri river passing through Vadodara can be declared as a habitat for crocodiles. Members of an animal welfare society mooted the idea that Vishwamitri should be declared as a national habitat for crocodiles. They argue that if Gir forest is the national habitat for lions and Madhya Pradesh is for tigers, then why not develop Vashvamitri river as the national habitat for crocodiles. They don't want any of these crocodiles to lead a “dog's life.” All these things will become past history, once Vishwamitri is developed as the natural habitat and all crocodiles are shifted there.
