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As lakes near zoo go dry, crocodiles pop up
D. Madhavan
The Hindu
Wildlife officials said some years ago, large birds picked up crocodile
eggs from the Vandalur zoo and dropped them in surrounding areas —
Photo: R. Vetri
At least 6 reptiles rescued since 2007; experts say more such incidents on anvil
Over the last six years or so, residents of Nedunkundram
and Sadanandapuram, areas close to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in
Vandalur, have had to contend with not just stray dogs and cats, but
crocodiles.
With two large waterbodies in these
villages rapidly drying up, crocodiles are often spotted on dry lake
beds, and panicked residents have rushed to zoo officials for help.
“In
summer, we often spot crocodiles moving from dry beds to parts of the
lake that have water. Sometimes, before we can alert anybody, the
crocodiles disappear into the thick forests near the lake,” said S.
Arumugam, president, Nedunkundram panchayat.
On
Tuesday, a farmer found a three-year-old marsh crocodile on the dry bed
of Nedunkundram Lake. Forest officials later took it to the zoo.
Officials say this is the second such incident since February 2011, when
another three-year-old female crocodile was spotted by residents on the
bed, and then caught in a fishing net by forest officials to transport
it.
Wildlife experts say there may be more such
incidents, as there are crocodiles in Sadanandapuram Lake as well, which
is drying up. Since 2007, at least half a dozen marsh crocodiles have
been rescued from areas adjoining the zoo, said Velachery forest ranger,
S. David Raj.
“These areas have several freshwater lakes, and marsh crocodiles thrive here,” he said
But how did these crocodiles get into the lakes?
A forest official said that for many years, none of the eight crocodile enclosures at the zoo was covered.
When
crocodiles gave birth in these enclosures, often big birds would swoop
down, snatch eggs or baby crocodiles, and fly away. Crocodile eggs weigh
only about 50 grams, the official said.[LAME EXCUSE?]
Some of these eggs were dropped into lakes near the zoo, and the crocodiles survived and grew there.
A
few years ago, zoo authorities covered the enclosures with nylon nets,
but over the course of a few years, even these nets were damaged by
birds.
At present, the zoo has 134 crocodiles,
including 125 marsh crocodiles. The other species include Nile
crocodile, Indian Gharial, South American Caiman and American
alligator.
Interestingly, in 2011, after the
three-year-old crocodile was found, a team of forest officials drained
the lake to look for others, but found none.
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