The mugger crocodile, which inhabits Vadodara, is a medium-to-large species.
Ahmedabad: Following the continuous rainfall, Gujarat is witnessing flooding in many areas, the most affected being Vadodara. The city is not only troubled by the deluge but also the crocodiles leaving the safe confines of Vishwamitri river and entering residential areas aided by flooded streets. The phenomenon is being witnessed again this year with 21 of these reptiles getting rescued last month, an official said on Sunday.
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The Vishwamitri River, stretching 17 kilometers through Vadodara, houses approximately 300 crocodiles. Encounters with these reptiles are frequent for residents living along the riverbanks, according to officials.
“While rescue of crocodiles from residential areas near the bank of Vishwamitri river continues throughout the year, the number rises significantly during monsoon. In June, four crocodiles were rescued and released back into the river. The number rose sharply to 21 in July,” informed Range Forest Officer (RFO) Karansinh Rajput.
“Many parts of the state witnessed heavy rainfall in July, flooding low lying areas. With residential areas coming up on both sides of the Vishwamitri river, the sighting of crocodiles on the streets of the city have also increased. These crocodiles also use a canal network to move from one water body to another. Some are found in lakes connected to the river, such as Ajwa on the outskirts of Vadodara,” explained Rajput.
He mentioned that wild animals typically avoid leaving their territories, and these crocodiles tend to return to the river they depart from during floods.
Wildlife activist Hemant Vadhwana noted that crocodiles occasionally utilize the stormwater drainage system to enter the city’s residential areas, although there have been no reports of such occurrences this year. “Such instances were reported during the floods of 2019. This time, we have rescued mostly small crocodiles, and that too from near the river banks,” he added.
The mugger crocodile, which inhabits Vadodara, is a medium-to-large species. An adult male can grow up to 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) in length and weigh approximately 450 kilograms, according to the Wildlife Institute of India.
(With PTI inputs)