Gujarat: Mugger crocodiles rescued in Vadodara

PUNE: Conservation organisation Wildlife SOS recently rescued two Mugger crocodiles during two consecutive days in Vadodara in Gujarat.
The reptiles are currently in the care of the forest department and will soon be released back into the wild.
A few days ago, residents of Kasturi Nagar Society in Manjalpur were in for a shock when they received a visitor in the form of a 5-foot-long Mugger crocodile.
Upon spotting the reptile, one of the residents of the society alerted Wildlife SOS on its 24x7 rescue helpline.
The Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit arrived at the location with the requisite equipment and protective gear, and safely lured the distressed reptile into a trap cage.
The crocodile is believed to have ventured into the society from a nearby canal.
Just a day later, the team was alerted about a crocodile sighting near Baroda Palace (Laxmi Vilas Palace).
It reached the location after locals reported seeing a 2-foot-long crocodile roaming the streets, a press statement issued by Wildlife SOS said.
The crocodile was extricated by the rescue team and handed over to the forest department.
Both the crocodiles are unharmed and will soon be released back into their natural habitat.
Last week, Wildlife SOS also rescued the season’s biggest crocodile, measuring 11.5-foot-long.
Raj Bhavsar, Project Coordinator at Wildlife SOS and President of GSPCA, said, “The Vishwmitri river is Vadodara’s major river and it flows past behind the palace. That is why sightings of crocodiles near the palace area are common during the monsoons. The reason being that Vishwamitri has the highest population density of Mugger crocodiles in Gujarat and heavy rains often flood the river, forcing the crocodiles out of their natural homes.”