NEWINDPRESS (India) 21 August 03 Croc scare keeps students, teachers away from school
Kendrapara: For about a fortnight, a primary school inside the Bhitarkanika sanctuary has been enjoying an undeclared holiday due to crocodile scare.
Panic gripped the entire area after the villagers saw a 5-foot-long adult salt water estuarine crocodile in the Jaya Durga Primary School pond near the Dangamal Crocodile Research Farm about two week’s ago.
Since then, the school remained closed as the authorities were concerned over the safety of their students and teachers.
Most of the man-crocodile conflicts last year were reported during this period, the mating season for the crocodiles. The reptiles tend to become most violent during the season.
Villagers alleged that although they informed the Forest Department about the croc-menace and requested them to shift the reptile, no steps have been taken so far.
Croc scare keeps students, teachers away from school