THE STATESMAN (Kolkata, India) 05 August 08 Skilled fishermen to tame stray crocodiles
Kendrapara: Rattled by menace unleashed by rampaging crocodiles in places of human habitation, the state forest department has appointed service groups of skilled fishermen to discipline the reptiles.
With crocodiles straying from their habitats into water bodies in and around the human settlements, man-crocodile conflict has reached a flash-point in peripheral villages of Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary.
“Crocodiles attacking humans and eating up cattle has now become a regular feature. Complaints are pouring in almost on a daily basis. It has been posing much headache to forest department,” said an official of Rajnagar forest (mangrove and wildlife) division.
To drive away the crocodiles from the village-side water bodies, 14 experienced local fishermen have been recruited on annual contract. Their job is to chase the straying reptiles back to their original habitat in Bhitarkanika river system, said official sources.
The recruited local fishermen have so far done an admirable job. Adhering to localised indigenous technique, they have chased back about half-a-dozen crocodiles.
Six more straying reptiles were trapped by this special squad and later released in the wild.
Straying crocodiles had let loose a reign of terror in Dangmal, Talchua, Krushnanagar, Righagada, Ragadapatia and Vekta villages. With crocodiles driven away, locals are now heaving sigh of relief, described forest officials.
The recruited fishermen are divided into four groups with each group provided with country-made boat and nets to help them in their operation.
First of all, they locate itinerant animals. Later the group on boats and armed with bamboo sticks put to use their expertise and chase the animals. If by chance the mission fails, they are forced to net the crocodiles.
Later the trapped animal is brought back and released in Bhitarkanika’s habitat, narrated the officials.
The crocs mostly stray into villages either in rainy season or during floods. The latest official census put the number of saltwater crocodiles at 1498 inhabiting along the innumerable nullahs and water-inlets within the sanctuary limits.
The census figure is believed to be on the lower side. On the other hand, it is being widely believed that over 2,000 reptiles crowd the Bhitarkanika water bodies.
Skilled fishermen to tame stray crocodiles