PANAJI
An 8.10-feet Marsh crocodile trapped in a riverside at Bandarwada Bicholim was rescued by Animal Rescue Squad chief Amrut Singh on Thursday morning. The reptile travelled through the flowing water body in search of prey at night was trapped in the grills and while trying to escape, was slightly hurt. A walker Devendra Nande saw the trapped crocodile from the walking track and called the animal rescuer immediately. Amrut Singh, upon receiving the call, rushed to the spot and rescued the crocodile single-handed.
“We have informed the Keri Forest Range officer. Their team will come to pick up the crocodile and release it in the same river track. Currently, we are observing the reptile as it’s exhausted and a bit injured. It will be released once it gains strength and is medically fit,” stated Amrut Singh, who claims of rescuing 8-9 crocodiles a year in monsoon which is their breeding season.
Many times, mother crocodiles with their babies are also seen around the human habitat coming out of water bodies to land in search of prey like rodents and frogs, but they do not cause any harm to humans, says Amrut.
The whole of India has only three species of crocodiles and Goa has two of them -- freshwater species, Mugger or Marsh and the saltwater species, Estuarine crocodile (also called Indo-Pacific, marine or sea crocodile). The third species is Ghadiyal, which is mostly found in rivers like Ganga. Goa does not have this species. The state riversides at Mavlinge, Cudchire, Sankhali, Amona, Keri, Mayem and Bicholim are full of crocodiles.
