Large crocodile strikes panic in Agra

AGRA: A nearly nine-foot-long crocodile was rescued by Wildlife SOS from a village in Fatehabad after it struck panic among local residents. The massive reptile was safely rescued and released into Chambal river in presence of forest officials.
An emergency call from the range forest officer alerted the Wildlife SOS team at the Agra Bear Rescue Facility to the presence of a massive crocodile in Paroli village located in Fatehabad.Before calling for the authorities for help, the panic stricken residents attempted to keep the crocodile from venturing further into the village.
A team of two rescuers from Wildlife SOS accompanied by forest officials promptly headed to the location to carry out the rescue operation. The reptile was nearly nine foot long and on careful examination the team noticed a missing right foot which seemed to be a result of an older injury.
Baiju Raj MV, director, conservation projects, Wildlife SOS said, “This is the second crocodile that we have rescued from Fatehabad this year. Crocodiles are found in freshwater habitats including, ponds, rivers, lakes and marshes and they can migrate considerable distances over land in search of a more suitable habitat and prey.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder Wildlife SOS said, “Crocodiles are met with fear and hostility, leading to incidents of human conflict with this species. We request the public to directly report such incidents to Wildlife SOS or the Forest Dept. rather than to take matters into their own hands. Such actions are dangerous and can even lead to untoward accidents unless carried out by professionals.”
Range forest officer RN Tiwari said, “We believe the crocodile had wandered into the village from Yamuna River which flows across this area. It has been released into the Chambal river which supports a significant crocodile population.”
The mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) also called the Indian or marsh crocodile is found throughout the Indian subcontinent. This species is listed ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Reed List and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Crocodiles are under the growing threat of habitat destruction and illegal poaching for skin, meat and the use of body parts in medicine.