Kendrapara, July 26 -- Forest officials from Bhitarkanika National Park today rescued two estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles from village ponds in the Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district.
In the first incident, a 6.3-foot-long female saltwater crocodile was captured with the help of a fishing net from a pond belonging to Dibakar Sethy in Endulapur village under Hatina Gram Panchayat. Officials suspect the crocodile may have strayed from its natural habitat during a high tide and drifted into the pond via floodwaters. The rescued reptile was released into the Habali creek near Gupti.
"During floods, it becomes easier for crocodiles to move upstream into rivers and ponds from nearby creeks and rivulets. It is a natural instinct for aquatic ...