Report: John Wilbert
Port Blair, 16 August 2024:
In a significant wildlife rescue operation, a massive adult male crocodile, measuring approximately 3.10 meters in length, was safely captured near ATR Road under the Bakuntala Nallah bridge in Middle Andaman. The operation, which took place early this morning of 09 August at around 5:30 AM, was a joint effort by the local Forest Division and Panchayat authorities.
The presence of the crocodile was first reported by a local villager on the evening of 8th August. The reptile was sighted in the nallah, a location alarmingly close to residential areas. Concerned for the safety of the residents, the villager immediately alerted the Forest Division of Bakuntala, Middle Andaman.
Acting swiftly, the Forest Division team, under the leadership of Sunil Kumar, IFS (OJT), placed a cage in the nallah as a precautionary measure. A Joint Patrol Team (JPT) consisting of members from the Forest Division and local Panchayat was deployed to monitor the area throughout the night.
The vigilant efforts of the JPT paid off early the next morning when they spotted the enormous crocodile. The professional crocodile rescue team, led by Sunil Kumar, quickly arrived at the scene to assess the situation. After a careful examination of the area, the team successfully captured the crocodile without incident.
The captured crocodile has since been safely transported to the Biological Park in Port Blair, where it will be kept under observation.
