Crocodile in Bhandup: Reptile out on a walk

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Around 2.15 am, Pawan Sharma, founder of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) , received a distress call from the forest department. “This was definitely the biggest crocodile we have rescued. We have never seen such a big crocodile even in its natural habitat in Powai, Tulsi or Vihar lakes during our surveys,” said Sharma.

The crocodile was spotted crawling on the tar road inside the complex, towards the tribal hamlet inside the complex. The RAWW team first surveyed the area to see if they could drive her towards Powai lake, but the only route would have been across the highway.

The team first managed to cover her eyes, but she was fiesty. “Almost uda diya,” said Sharma, referring to the violent flailing that threw off the rescuers seated on her back. Three failed attempts then followed, to sit on the reptile and truss her up with thick ropes. Four more rescuers were called in, as the mood in the Bhandup complex grew tense.

On the fourth try, around 6.45 am, the crocodile was finally under control — rope, cellotape and cloth holding its mouth shut and its limbs tied down. All 12 rescuers then carried the reptile to the forest department’s rescue van, which however proved too small. An hour later, a tempo was hurriedly hired to take the visitor to Thane, to the forest division’s regional office, where veterinarians from the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) gave the reptile a ‘fit to be released’ certificate.

According to Sanjay Gandhi National Park Director Vikas Gupta, the reptile was released “in its natural habitat” around 4.45 pm.

Given the distance from Powai lake to the Bhandup complex, RAWW members believe she may have reached the spot through a large drainage pipe.

“In 2011, we had rescued a 7-foot crocodile in Mulund and realised it came through a drainage pipe. In this case also, there was no way for the crocodile to reach the lake on its own by road, which is why we believe this one too came through large pipes that surround the complex. Usually, when the Powai lake overflows, some crocodiles get washed into the drainage pipes and are then spotted in different areas,” said Sharma.

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com