Overview

• A 6.3-foot female saltwater crocodile was captured from an Endulalapur village pond on July 26 after locals alerted forest officials.
• The netting operation lasted three hours with residents observing before veterinarians confirmed the reptile was healthy.
• No attacks occurred during the crocodile’s excursion into the village and it was safely guided back to Bhitarkanika waterways.
• High tides and elevated water levels have increasingly driven crocodiles from the sanctuary into nearby community water bodies.
• The Forest Department is boosting riverbank patrols and expanding outreach programs to reduce future human–crocodile encounters.