SANGUEM
The academic year has just begun and a few footfalls were expected at the Our Lady of Poor School at Tilamol on account of the pandemic, but school authorities on Friday morning were taken aback with the arrival of an unusual visitor: a three-meter-long crocodile.
Forest department staff later caught the crocodile and later it was released into a nearby river.
According to locals, the crocodile entered the school premises at Tilamol, which is close to the main road and at a junction, where a large number of people move during the day.
A security guard was startled to notice the crocodile and alerted school officials, who in turn, notified the Range Forest Office at Quepem.
On account of online classes, only teaching and non-teaching staff were present in the school and they were surprised to see the large crocodile in the school premises which has a compound wall.
News of the crocodile’s presence in the school spread like wildfire and a large number of people gathered in the school premises to take a look at the unusual visitor.
Locals believe that the crocodile may have arrived from the rivulet near the school premises.
A forest team from Range Forest Office at Quepem and animal rescuer Juliao Quadros later caught the crocodile in the school premises.
Quepem RFO Siddhesh Gaude later confirmed that the crocodile was safely caught and later released into the river.
