A member of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) rescue team was seriously injured while relocating an Indian Marsh crocodile at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP ) on Friday. The injured animal keeper suffered serious injuries to his hand and is currently undergoing treatment at the local hospital.
The animal rescuer seems to have had a streak of bad luck and was injured in another incident of rescuing a captive tiger to administer some health treatment at SNGP in June.
The incident occurred, said sources from SGNP told Sunday mid-day, when Rajendra Bhoir was attempting to rescue a four-foot long crocodile near Kanheri caves.
Relating the incident, Bhoir said, “We got the information that the crocodile was stuck in one of the ponds on the top hilly area of Kanheri Caves inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the five of us reached the spot as soon as we got the information.” Since there was no way to understand the depth of the water the team a few team members entered the pond only to realise that the water was chest level, “We drained the water using buckets until it was down to just above our ankles and we started our efforts to safely rescue the crocodile,” added Bhoir, when we visited him at the hospital.
The incident that led to injuries unfolded as the other four members encircled the crocodile and he made the final approach, his left hand was torn apart in a fraction of a second. “None of us understood what happened. Within two to three seconds, my hand was torn and all that we could see was heavy blood flow oozing out,” said Bhoir, still in shock.
This incident, however, has once again brought to light the plight of such rescue teams. “Our officials had received funds and payments. But still, no rescue equipment has been purchased. If we had proper gloves and boots, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt so badly. We rescue all kinds of animals, reptiles and mammals so that these creatures and human beings around can stay harmoniously. But the lack of proper equipment and rescue gear often leads to these avoidable work hazards,” said Bhoir.
Bhoir, who at present has three stitches on his hand, has been advised to stay admitted to the hospital for the next five days. “At present, his hand has three stitches where the year is big. The rest area is kept unstitched so that if there is any infection inside, that will ooze out. He needs to be administered two injections per day — one in the morning and one at night,” informed one of the nurses of Shri Krishna Hospital.
