Hyderabad, November 10: Passersby making day-long halts to watch the rescue operations launched for the crocodile found on Monday in a rain water filled ditch in Nanakramguda, were once again disappointed as the officials failed to trap it today.
The 10-12 feet long crocodile (about 10 years old) created panic among locals on Monday when it was first spotted in the 40 feet deep pond. Having failed to capture the reptile on Monday, a team comprising zoo officials, experienced rescue workers from the Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary and Range Forest officers renewed efforts today. But the rescue team that set to work since early morning had to give up their efforts by evening and postponed the operations till Wednesday morning.
Despite bringing in ‘AP Tourism’ peddle boats, motor boats and throwing in the specially designed crocodile net, the massive crocodile could neither be lured with feed nor cornered in the pond through the day. The rescue team plans to release the crocodile in its natural habitat in the Manjira Reservoir, once caught.
Locals, passersby and media-persons gathered to get a glimpse of the reptile were disappointed as only the reptile’s snout peeped out five to six times. While it is rare for crocodiles to stay underwater for very long hours, this freshwater crocodile did not come out of water through the day.
“All reptiles depend on heat sources to regulate its body temperature. As crocodiles are cold-blooded, they need to sunbathe often to keep themselves warm. Staying underwater for long hours is unnatural for them and it is also impossible to catch the immensely powerful reptile in water. We need to wait till it comes on land and then try to catch it,” explained Zoo Education Officer, Noor Ahmed, who was monitoring the proceedings of the rescue operations.
The officials believe that the reptile may have come into the ditch through a linking pipeline or just crossed via land from another water body during the heavy rains in the last few days and confused this pond with its territory.
The number of onlookers kept increasing through the day with school children returning from schools joining them in the evening. The moments when the reptile was spotted were greeted with appause but otherwise the over 200 people lazed on the slopes of the expressway and enjoyed an impromptu picnic.
–Agencies