What if you open the door of your house and witness a massive crocodile that appears to be looking for food, jaws open, right on your doorstep? Well, this is ‘normal’ for Vadodara residents. While Vadodara’s monsoon conditions change from year to year, one thing that consistently haunts the residents during the monsoons is crocodiles. The flood levels of the Vishwamitri river in Vadodara have receded during the last four days. On Thursday (August 29, 2024), the water began to subside, and gigantic crocodiles were seen wandering across the city. The forest department and other organizations promptly initiated a rescue operation, relocating several crocodiles to safer habitats.
OpIndia called Karan Singh Rajput, Range Forest Officer, Vadodara Forest Department who stated that more than 14 crocodiles had been rescued until Thursday, August 29, 2024) in this year’s monsoon. The forest department and local non-governmental organizations helped in rescuing seven crocodiles.
મગર જી નહિ શકતે તુમ્હારે (વડોદરા) બીના… https://t.co/sRzmxdngk7
— Aaditya. (@DrAadityaMehta) August 29, 2024
Rescue of 14 crocodiles in four days, appeal to Vadodara residents to be careful
According to Karan Singh, the longest crocodile rescued in these four days came from Karelibagh and was roughly 15 feet long. When asked about the increasing number of crocodiles and their venture into Vadodara city, he told OpIndia, “We have 1300 volunteers enrolled with Karuna Abhiyan in Vadodara who work to conserve diverse species and biodiversity. Currently, there are 15 to 20 such NGOs dealing with the flood problem. 50-60 people work in all NGOs, and all of them have joined us. One can say that the people of Vadodara are so aware of crocodiles and the steps need to send them back to their natural habitat that they co-operate fully and man-animal conflict cases are negligible.
વડોદરા: 13.5 ફુટ લાંબા મગરનું લાઈવ રેસક્યું
— Vadodara🪩 (@vadodara_click) August 29, 2024
એમ.એસ યુનિવર્સિટીની આર્ટસ ફેકલ્ટીમાં મહાકાય મગર આવી ગયો હતો વાઈલ્ડ લાઈફ રેસક્યું ટ્રસ્ટના મેમ્બરે સહિસલામત રેસક્યું કર્યો #vadodara #baroda #ourvadodara #crocrodile pic.twitter.com/iBGLeePWQb
According to Charan Singh, approximately 70 snakes, in addition to crocodiles, have been successfully rescued. According to him, the Vadodara Forest Department was prepared to deal with a variety of eventualities even before the floods. The department had built appropriate crocodile capture cages, transport vehicles, and other arrangements. He also advised Vadodara residents to be cautious in the future, as crocodiles will emerge when the water recedes. He further requested that anyone with a crocodile or any other wildlife rescue or emergency request should call 9429558883 or 9429558886.
Why Vishwamitri river is the home of so many crocodiles?
There are several rivers in Gujarat. But why are there more crocodiles only in the Vishwamitri river? In response to this query, RFO Karan Singh of the district forest department says, “The Vishwamitri river can be called the crocodile’s stronghold. This is due to Vadodara’s geographical location, as well as the suitability of the Vishwamitri River for crocodiles. The river that runs through the city is so deep that it provides an ideal habitat for crocodiles. On the other side, one factor is central Gujarat’s climate, which is ideal for crocodile breeding. These are freshwater crocodiles, and the protected green stretch of the Vishwamitri River offers a favorable environment.”
“The breeding season for male and female crocodiles begins with the arrival of hot summer days. In May, the female crocodile digs a hole in the earth and lays her eggs inside. A riverbed with dense trees and foliage provides an ideal environment for crocodile eggs to hatch. However, because the Vishwamitri River is so deep, it supplies enough food for crocodiles. Apart from some areas where the river’s water receedes, there are several areas of the river with deep water where crocodiles can find plenty of food. Thus, the stretch of the Vishwamitri River has been confined by nets; however, if livestock enters the stretch, crocodiles kill them too,” he added.
How many crocodiles live in Vishwamitri?
According to a report in the Times of India in June, more than 300 crocodiles live in a 17-km stretch of the Vishwamitri river that bisects the city of Vadodara. The crocodiles were last counted in the year 2020 and at that time their number was 275.
It is worth mentioning that this is only about Vishwamitri river. As for the rest of the geographical location, the river mainly receives water from the Ajwa lake and the lake is also home to a lot of crocodiles. Apart from this, there are a good number of crocodiles in Jambuwa and Dev rivers around Vadodara. Recently, a case of a crocodile attack came to light in Gutal village of Waghodia taluka. The number of crocodiles is continuously increasing due to the amenity of the Vishwamitri River. It is also said that more than 6 crocodiles are living in the Vishwamitri River in every one-kilometer radius.
Which species of crocodiles are found in the river?
There are 23 species of crocodiles in the world, three of which live in India. There are additional variations between saltwater and freshwater crocodiles. The species of crocodile found in Vadodara is known as the ‘marsh crocodile’. This type of crocodile is known for its hoof-hunting abilities. They have the art of using their legs to chase and catch prey. The marsh crocodile’s jaws are placed upside down, so once the victim is trapped, it cannot escape. This crocodile can bite with a force of three tons.
Marsh crocodiles may run up to 8 miles per hour for short distances when hunting. The faster it can run or walk, the quicker it can swim. Marsh alligators can swim at speeds of 10 to 12 mph, and sometimes even quicker. Marsh crocodiles are classified as medium-sized. These crocodiles are 8 to 15 feet long.
Crocodiles generally live for 50 to 80 years. Its breeding season begins with the end of winter and the arrival of heat in July. When the weather gets hot, they lay their eggs in riverbeds and, in some circumstances, burrows. At the beginning of the monsoon, baby crocodiles hatch from eggs and the breeding of adults continues.
