A six-foot long crocodile was rescued from a lake in Maharashtra`s Thane district after a 15-hour operation, officials said on Monday.
The sightings of reptile near the ancient Masle Talao lake in a village close to Murbad had created panic among local tribals, they said.
The crocodile had not been recorded in the area before and was frequently seen near a water pit accessed by villagers, especially as water levels in the lake receded.
The rescue operation
To prevent human-wildlife conflict, the Forest Department, Thane decided to safely capture and relocate the crocodile.
A 12-member team, assisted by locals, carried out the operation over 15 hours under the supervision of senior forest officials, including the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Assistant Conservator of Forests, and Range Forest Officers.
Wildlife organisations step-in
The operation was jointly conducted with RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare) and Ashwamedh Pratisthan.
Experts Chinmay Joshi and Mahesh Ithape from RAWW, along with Avinash Harad from Ashwamedh Pratisthan, led the capture to ensure the crocodile’s safety.
After the rescue, the reptile will undergo a medical examination by a team of veterinarians associated with RAWW in Mumbai.
Based on the assessment, the Forest Department will decide its relocation to the nearest natural habitat, with continued support from the non-profit organisations.
