Crocodile rescued in Vadodara

Wildlife activists and officials of the forest department rescued a 12-foot-long crocodile from Maretha village near Maneja on the outskirts of Vadodara city Wednesday. The reptile had crept into a cattle shed and feasted on a stray pig when it was spotted by local villagers who panicked and called the rescuers.

Volunteers of the Save Wildlife Trust Wednesday received a call from locals of Maretha village stating that a crocodile had been spotted at Rabari Faliya. Forest officials and volunteers rushed to the spot, and it took a gruelling three-and-a-half hours to rescue the crocodile before handing it over to the forest department.

Volunteers said they had difficulty in the operation due to the presence of prickly bush around the area and the reptile’s aggression. “Eventually, the volunteers were able to cover the crocodile’s face with a cloth as three men sat on its back to pin it down and tie up its mouth… The crocodile was then caged and taken into forest department custody,” an official said.