:: News Plus

Crocodiles on killing spree in Orissa sanctuary

Akshaya Kumar Sahoo

Augest.25 : Salt-water crocodiles have virtually let loose a reign of terror in villages adjoining Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary in Kendrapara district, nearly 120 km from Bhubaneswar. The reptiles have killed a woman and seriously injured another person for the past 24 hours.

Early on Monday morning, a crocodile pounced on Budhadev Parida near Sahupada village under Aul police station area. The badly maimed man is presently battling for life at the Kendrapara district headquarters hospital, the police said.

On Sunday, Sanjukta Behera from Mahuri was the third human casualty registered in and around Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary since the past fortnight. With crocodiles going on rampage, panic has taken firm grip in and around the riverside human settlements. There are reports of locals keeping safe distance from ghats of crocodile-infested rivers and water-bodies.

With six persons already devoured by crocodiles this year, the toll has broken the average annual record of past years. On an average, around three persons fall prey to the salt water crocodiles’ attack each year, in and around Bhitarkanika National Park. The total number of registered human causalities since 1997, following the man-crocodile conflict in the region, according to official sources, is 32, and those killed also included a forest department staff.

On the other hand, unofficial sources put the death toll at 56 and added that the extra casualties were either deliberately not recorded by forest personnel or not brought to the notice of the department.

The outbreak of the man-reptile conflict claimed six human lives this year alone, while a dozen of others were injured following attack by salt-water crocodiles since January. The human retaliation, on the other hand, resulted in the death of at least two giant-size adult crocodiles.

Lethal assault by the reptiles and consequent retaliatory attack by men has become a regular feature in this part of the state. Unofficial statistics state that about a dozen people and animals lose their lives each year as a result of the conflict.

The break-up of human toll, following crocodile attack, is: 1997-3, 1998-2, 1999-1,2000-2,2001-3, 2002-2, 2003-1, 2004-4, 2005-3, 2006-2,2007-3,2008-2, 2009 (till date)-6.

The conflict and consequent loss of human lives are often recorded during the winter, the nesting season of the estuarine crocodiles.

It has been observed that the adult crocodiles, under normal circumstances, do not leave their territory to chase human beings on land, unlike terrestrial predatory animals, such as tiger. Most often the mishaps occur when the victims intrude into the animal’s habitat for illegal fishing, poaching, firewood and honey collection.

Following the reign of terror let loose by the estuarine species in numerous creeks and water-inlets of Kharasrota, Brahmani, Khola and Petshala rivulets, bordering the wildlife sanctuary, fear and panic has stalked around 50,000 residents of a dozen hamlets in and around Bhitarkanika.

The residents reportedly attacked the crocodiles, injuring at least five of them in the past three months. However, the report was not officially confirmed.

The number of crocodiles in Bhitarkanika river system has been rising steadily, with the latest census indicating that more than 1,500 species inhabit in the water bodies.

The animals, in the wake of depleted food reserve in the river system, stray into nearby rivulets and nullahs. With the water bodies located in the vicinity of human settlements, the crocodiles attack men who fish in "troubled waters".

While the wildlife experts are observing the violent behavioural instinct of the crocodiles, the local people think that disproportionate rise in the number of crocodiles has upset their food chain. The species, hit by hunger, feast on human beings, experts believe.