Pushed Into Residential Areas By Flooding, 24 Crocodiles Rescued In Vadodara By Forest Dept

Several videos surfaced online of people finding crocodiles in their homes and trying to keep them trapped until the authorities showed up. 

After the water level dipped in the Vishwamitri River, the rescued crocodiles and other reptiles are likely to be released soon.

Source : X/@himanshu_171120

Amid the heavy rains that lashed Gujarat's Vadodara between August 27 and 29, a total of 24 crocodiles that strayed into residential areas owing to rising levels of the Vishwamitri river were rescued. According to a PTI report, the Vishwamitri River is home to 440 crocodiles. Several of these crocodiles were found in residential areas after flooding caused by water release from the Ajwa dam, Vadodara Range Forest Officer Karansinh Rajput said. 

Several videos surfaced online of people finding crocodiles in their homes and trying to keep them trapped until the authorities showed up. 

⚠️Danger Alert⚠️
Crocodiles are entering people's homes due to floods in Gujarat, India. This has created panic in the public mind.#Flooding #GujaratFlood pic.twitter.com/xkIugpmLJW

— Mahii (@MahimKhan308) August 31, 2024

In a video, five crocodiles were shown swimming away in the Vishwamitri river with a calf. 

તળાવમાં તો મગર! વડોદરાની વિશ્વામિત્રી નદીનો
કથિત વાયરલ વીડિયો

Crocodiles in Vadodara Vishwamitri river#Vadodara #vadodararain #crocodile pic.twitter.com/WucsqXPIJL

— Dr_Mayur ( Gujarat Samachar ) (@WhoMayurSolanki) August 31, 2024

In one video, two men on a bike were seen carrying a young crocodile to the authorities, with its mouth tied up

મગરને મળી એક્ટિવાની સવારી@VMCVadodara
#crocodile #Vishwamitri #Vadodara #Gujarat #viralvideo pic.twitter.com/6Jw6uG0M91

— HIMANSHU PARMAR (@himanshu_171120) August 31, 2024

However, no incident of crocodile-human conflict was recorded during these days. A forest official was quoted as saying by PTI that crocodiles don’t attack humans, and usually eat fish and animal carcasses. They are also likely to kill and eat dogs, pigs or other small animals, the official added.

Rajput said that the smallest crocodile they caught was two ft long and the largest was 14 ft long. Residents had alerted the forest department about the crocodiles. 

Aside from 24 crocodiles, the forest department rescued 75 other animals, including snakes, cobras, five large turtles weighing nearly 40 kilograms, and a porcupine, Rajput said. 

After the water level dips in the Vishwamitri river, the rescued crocodiles and other reptiles are likely to be released.