Forest officials successfully captured a crocodile from a pond in Pattakaranur village near Mettupalayam after a 35-hour operation. The reptile was safely relocated to Bhavanisagar reservoir.
Coimbatore: In a challenging 35-hour operation, the Forest Department successfully captured a crocodile from a pond in Pattakaranur village near Mettupalayam, Coimbatore district. The rescue mission began after local residents reported the presence of the reptile in the village pond.
Manoj Kumar, the Sirumugai Forest Range Officer, led a team to investigate the situation and confirmed the crocodile's presence in the pond. The operation faced initial hurdles due to the pond's depth, which exceeded 10 feet. Officials decided to drain the water completely before attempting to capture the crocodile.
The water draining process commenced at 11 AM the previous day, utilizing petrol-powered motor pumps. The operation continued through the night, and by 3 PM today, the pond was sufficiently drained to begin the capture attempt.
As the water level decreased, the crocodile became more visible and active, moving around the shrinking water body.
Forest officials used ropes with loops to safely capture the reptile and bring it to shore. After capture, the crocodile underwent a health check-up, which confirmed its good condition.
Following the successful rescue, forest officials transported the crocodile to the Bhavanisagar reservoir for release. The entire operation, lasting nearly 35 hours, demonstrated the department's commitment to wildlife conservation and public safety.
Local villagers expressed their gratitude to the Forest Department for their persistent efforts in safely removing the crocodile from the residential area. The successful completion of this challenging task highlighted the importance of human-wildlife conflict management in urban and rural interfaces.
Manoj Kumar, the Sirumugai Forest Range Officer, led a team to investigate the situation and confirmed the crocodile's presence in the pond. The operation faced initial hurdles due to the pond's depth, which exceeded 10 feet. Officials decided to drain the water completely before attempting to capture the crocodile.
The water draining process commenced at 11 AM the previous day, utilizing petrol-powered motor pumps. The operation continued through the night, and by 3 PM today, the pond was sufficiently drained to begin the capture attempt.
As the water level decreased, the crocodile became more visible and active, moving around the shrinking water body.
Forest officials used ropes with loops to safely capture the reptile and bring it to shore. After capture, the crocodile underwent a health check-up, which confirmed its good condition.
Following the successful rescue, forest officials transported the crocodile to the Bhavanisagar reservoir for release. The entire operation, lasting nearly 35 hours, demonstrated the department's commitment to wildlife conservation and public safety.
Local villagers expressed their gratitude to the Forest Department for their persistent efforts in safely removing the crocodile from the residential area. The successful completion of this challenging task highlighted the importance of human-wildlife conflict management in urban and rural interfaces.