VASCO: After several attempts, Forest Department workers were finally able to capture a crocodile which was frequently seen in the pond near Baina church. They caught the reptile on Thursday morning. Although Baina residents have heaved a sigh of relief, they are also worried about more crocodiles being present in the pond and its vicinity.
The crocodile had been a subject of rumours in the area for several months, with locals claiming that a crocodile had made the pond his/her home. In response, the Forest Department had then set a trap to catch the deadly reptile. However, a dog had instead gotten caught in this trap.
On Thursday morning, a youth spotted the crocodile outside his house, located close to the pond. He alerted the locals in the area who in turn informed police and Vasco MLA Daji Salkar. Salkar directed forest officials to catch the reptile. The officials have said that the crocodile would be released in a natural habitat far away from human settlements.
While crocodiles have been spotted in several places across Goa, with local youth even capturing the juvenile reptiles in some places, wildlife experts say it is highly unlikely for even full-grown muggers to prey on humans, as they have access to an abundance of fish, turtles and other prey. Experts maintain that relocation of crocodiles from areas they live in is a terrible solution, as they are more likely to attack when scared or disoriented, like they would be in a new, strange location.
