Post News Network
Chandbali, April 12: Scores of riparian villages under Chandbali block in Bhadrak have been witnessing increasing menace of crocodile attacks over the years resulting in the death of human being and animals.
The reptiles often stray into creeks, nullahs, paddy fields, prawn gherries and even ponds.
Villages like Kanda, Haripur, Kaudiapal, Kuli, Tentulidihi, Dhankhani, Muan, Sathibakuda, Chhedak and Ghinkuili, have virtually turned into a death zone, as reptiles have claimed lives of 11 human being and 22 cattle heads in the last 9 years. Four persons have also been left paralyzed after being attacked by the crocodiles.
Alarmed at the increasing threat from crocodiles, the state human rights commission recently sought to know from the Bhadrak wildlife division about the protective measures taken to prevent such attacks. The wildlife division, in its reply, said the warning boards have been put at various river fords and bathing ghats to warn people about the possible presence of the reptiles.
Crocodiles sometimes get into Baitarani, Mantei, Salandi, Kani and other tributaries in the area. But threat from crocodiles is more perceptible in rivers like Mantei, Baitarani and Salandi. World famous crocodile breeding centre at Dangamal in Bhitarkanika, is a few nautical distance from Chandbali.
Due to increasing crock-threat, people fear to venture out to rivers and rivulets, abandoned cultivation in riparian farmland and do not even wash utensils, do fishing and irrigate land.
According to a census conducted by Bhadrak wildlife division, the number of crocodiles has gone up in Baitarani, Salandi and Mantei. The local people often spot crocodiles while crossing rivers on boats.
Usually, the crocodile threat was perceived during February-June period, but it is now throughout the year. Some people had spotted a number of crocodiles in Baitarani on a full moon days, two years ago.
Wildlife warden Sudhir Mohanty said the habitats of crocodiles are in tatters making reptiles more violent and it is not possible to put iron frameworks in rivers to prevent intrusion of crocs. “The department neither has adequate staff not tools and speed boats to monitor the movement of crocs in rivers,” Mohanty said.
In case of casualties, the department has made provision of compensation to the affected people. Since July, 2014, the department is providing `3 lakh to the family of crocodile attack victims; `1 lakh in case of people paralysed and `5000 to the people losing cattle to crocodiles.
Number of croc victims: According to Bhadrak Wildlife Division, two persons were killed in crocodile attack and one got paralysed in 2006-07. The number of casualties was two while two were wounded in 2007-08; but it came down to one each in 2008-09 and 2009-10; however, crocodiles killed three persons in 2010-11 and two in 2014-15.
Fight with croc: Santosh Rout (50) of Dhanakhania in Bhuinbruti panchayat was pulled away by a crocodile while bathing in Salandi October 2, 2006.
With his right hand kept in between the jaws of the croc, he bravely fought the reptile and tried to rub a stick of kewda flower on the muzzle of the croc.
Locals immediately came to his rescue with a boat but the croc bit off flesh from his arm. He, however, recuperated after one month of treatment at a hospital. Almost paralysed, Rout is eking out his living by running a small shop on the river embankment.
Only son fell into jaws of death: A crocodile killed 8-year old Bikram Das, son of Suresh Das, of Muangaon in Aradi panchayat, March 11, 2015. Though fire brigade swung into action, he could not be saved from the jaws of death. Two days later, his body was found on river bank.
Dead croc on river bank: A 4-ft long crocodile was found dead in Kani river, a distributary of Baitarani, near Baulajoda village in Bhuinbruti panchayat. March 9, a carcass of a
crocodile was fished out Tinitar ghat.
It is suspected that the crocodile might have been killed by the local people.
The carcass of another female crocodile was found at Tinitar ghat near Aradi at the confluence of Salandi and Baitarani. It was aged about 7 years and was pregnant, post mortem report said. It might have been hurt by a motorized boat or by a
fishing net.