THE STATESMAN (Kolkata, India) 26 February 04 Bhitarkanika crocodiles turn violent
Kendrapara: On an average, more than two persons fall prey to the salt water crocodiles’ attack each year, in and around the Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district, according to the latest statistics, released by the state forest department.
The registered human causalities since 1997, following the man-crocodile conflict in the region, according to official sources, is 18, and those killed also included a forest department staff.
On the other hand, unofficial sources put the death toll at 43 and add that the extra casualties were either deliberately not recorded by forest personnel or not brought to the notice of the department.
The outbreak of the man-reptile conflict claimed four human lives this year alone, while six others were injured following attack by salt-water crocodiles, since last October 2003. The human retaliation, on the other hand, resulted in the death of a few giant-size adult crocodiles.
Lethal assault by the reptiles and consequent retaliatory attack by men have become a regular feature in this part of the state. About a dozen people and animals lose their lives each year as a result of the conflict.
The break-up of human toll, following crocodile attack, is:
1996-97 — 3, 1997-98 — 2, 1998-99 — 1, 1999-2000 — 2, 2000-01 — 3, 2001-02 — 2, 2002-03 — 1, 2003-04 — 4.
The conflict and consequent loss of human lives are often recorded during the winter, the nesting season of the estuarine crocodiles.
It has been observed that the adult crocodiles, under normal circumstances, do not leave their territory to chase human beings on land, unlike terrestrial predatory animals, such as tiger. Most often the mishaps occur when the victims intrude into the animal’s habitat for illegal fishing, poaching, fuel wood collection and honey collection.
Following the reign of terror let loose by the estuarine species in numerous creeks and water-inlets of Khola and Petshala rivulets, bordering the wildlife sanctuary, fear and panic has stalked around 50,000 residents of a dozen hamlets in and around Bhitarkanika.
The residents reportedly attacked the crocodiles, injuring at least five of them in the past three months. However, the report was not officially confirmed. The number of crocodiles in Bhitarkanika river system has been rising steadily, with the latest census indicating that more than 1,300 species inhabit in the water bodies.
The animals, in the wake of depleted food reserve in the river system, stray into nearby rivulets and nullahs. With the water bodies located in the vicinity of human settlements, the crocodiles attack men who fish in ‘troubled waters’.
While the wildlife experts are observing the violent behavioural instinct of the crocodiles, the local people think that massive rise in the number of crocodiles has upset their food chain. The species, hit by hunger, feast on human beings, experts believe.
Bhitarkanika crocodiles turn violent