Condolence meet in Vadodara today to mourn crocodile deaths

Vadodara: In Aug 2021, as the city was still reeling from the devastating second wave of Covid-19, a small but devoted group of locals gathered at the ghats of the Vishwamitri River. Their grief, however, was not just for human lives lost — it was also for a 10-foot crocodile that became a familiar presence in the river, gone forever.
The country moved on from the pandemic, but for Barodians, the sorrow of losing their beloved crocodiles remains fresh.
On Friday, wildlife enthusiasts and reptile rescuers will come together once again, this time at Yavteshwar Ghat in Sayajigunj, for a besna (a condolence meet). This time, they will mourn the recent deaths of seven crocodiles over the last few months.
"Crocodiles have been an integral part of our city. We care for them just like our family. The deaths of seven crocodiles in Vishwamitri within a gap of a few months is a huge loss for us as well as the environment. So, we decided to organise a condolence meeting for the reptiles," said Sanjay Soni, a wildlife lover who works to conserve the reptiles in the city.
Vadodara is the only city in Asia where crocodiles thrive right in the middle of an urban sprawl. The 27 km stretch of Vishwamitri River, bisecting the Banyan City, is a home to at least 300 crocodiles.
"But the besna is not just about expressing our grief. We will also discuss reasons behind the deaths and take up the issue with the forest department. No one knows why crocodiles, which otherwise have a long life, died and if any steps are being taken to prevent the deaths," said Soni.
Sanjay Soni, a wildlife lover who works to conserve the reptiles in the city, filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act demanding information about the crocodiles' deaths from the forest department.
The group will also organise a yagna for the dead crocodiles in the evening.
On Thursday, an eight-foot-long crocodile's body was retrieved from the river near the cable-stayed bridge in Sayajibaug, making it the seventh death in five months. "We will keep photos of the dead crocodiles and the dates of their death at the gathering. We hope that people understand the importance of the crocodiles in our ecosystem and make efforts to conserve these reptiles," said Jarshesh Gai, one of the group members.