A crocodile,which was examined by veterinary experts from the Anand College of Veterinary Science and the Animal Husbandry last week,died on Tuesday following acute infection. The postmortem report is,however,awaited. According to Vishal Thakur of the K9 Group,a non-government organisation,the crocodile died of infection,which had spread in its body. On October 14,the volunteers,along with the Forest department staff,had rescued the crocodile from Alva village after the villagers attacked it with sharp weapons. The crocodile sustained severe injuries in its eyes,forehead and the backbone. Though the volunteers finally did take the crocodile to the polyclinic regularly,it was only last week that veterinarians from Anand college examined it during a eye-camp for pets. When we went to the nursery around 7.30 am today,the reptile was already dead. When we contacted the officials of the veterinary polyclinic,we were advised to take it to Anand college for the benefit of the student community, said Thakur. He added: According to the doctors,the infection had spread in almost every part of the reptiles body. They also noticed ulcer in its lungs and liver. A comprehensive postmortem report containing the cause of the death will be handed over to the Forest department on Tuesday. Veterinary experts at Anand college said though the wound seemed to have healed from the outside ,the infection must have spread within. We had hoped a fast recovery and were eager to release the reptile in its original habitat but unfortunately it could not survive. We would like to pass on a message to the people that it is high time to wake up and protect these reptiles which are the unique identity of our city, Thakur told The Indian Express.
