Forest Department confirmed the presence of a 5’ to 7’ long crocodile in Nag nullah near Maharajbag area and started preparing to capture it.
For the last around one month, local public claimed to have seen the crocodile in the nullah at Gawalipura, Maharajbag, Dhantoli to Baidyanath Chowk but there was evidence about its existence in the nullah so far. Now, the forestmen located it and hence it is no more rumours.
Talking to The Live Nagpur here on Tuesday, Surendra Kale, Assistant Conservator of Forest, said that forestmen saw the crocodile and started for making arrangements to capture it. Forest official concerned has sought permission from Sunil Limaye, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Maharashtra, at Nagpur trap the crocodile. The permission will be granted shortly, Kale pointed out.
Meanwhile, forestmen have installed three camera traps at the strategic points. Meanwhile, they are observing movements of it in the water body. After getting permission, foresters will try to capture the crocodile by laying nets or placing cage, Kale pointed out.
The forestmen cannot tranquilise it like tigers, leopards or other wild animals in forest because it is in the water. They tranquilise the wild animals only if a waterhole or water body is far away from the spot as it is the tendency of an animal to run towards water, which is dangerous as it becomes unconscious after some time.
Sources said that four small crocodiles in Maharajbag zoo must have swept in water due to floods last year and now one of them is seen in this size. However, there is no confirmed theory about how the crocodile strayed to the nullah, which is not considered to be a suitable habitat for it.
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