Morjim crocodile must have
strayed from Chapora river: DCF
PANAJI
The crocodile which was spotted and photographed on Morjim beach, is not a saltwater crocodile, but one of the many estuarine crocodiles which could have strayed from the Chapora River, forest department officials have said.
Photographs clicked of the crocodile walking along the beach in shallow water before vanishing in the surf was seen by one Nilesh Bagkar, while he was taking a morning walk on the Morjim beach.
“It must have come from Chapora river. It must have strayed from the river and because it was chased by dogs the crocodile must have gone to the sea,” D N F Carvalho, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) said.
He said that Goa has no recorded instances of sea water crocodiles, even as there is documented evidence of crocodiles in the estuarine rivers of Chapora, Mandovi especially in the Cumbarjua Canal, Chorao including places like Colvale etc.
Except for saltwater crocodiles, which is the largest reptile, all species of crocodile and alligators live in freshwater.
Saltwater crocodiles are known to inhabit the east coast of India and much of tropical waters of South East Asia, but are not known in the West Coast.
The presence of crocodiles in the waters off Goa, which are popular for bathers could spell doom for the state’s thriving industry.
