Heavy rainfall in Vadodara, Gujarat, has led to crocodiles appearing in various parts of the city. The overflow of the Vishwamitri River has led to these reptiles moving into residential neighborhoods, creating a dangerous situation for the residents. A recent viral video highlights the issue, showing two men transporting a crocodile they found in the Vishwamitri River amid a flood situation to the forest department office on a scooter. The video, posted on August 31, 2024, b has gained significant attention, with over 3.96 lakh views and 370 comments.
The video’s caption humorously reads, “Even the crocodile will remember the thrill of a ride on a two-wheeler. Two young men are transporting a crocodile from the Vishwamitri River to the forest department office.” The Vishwamitri River is home to approximately 440 crocodiles, many of which end up in residential areas during floods caused by the release of water from the Ajwa dam. People have spotted these reptiles on house roofs, roads, and even in colleges, with numerous videos of these sightings going viral on social media.
मगरमच्छ भी याद रखेगा की टू व्हीलर पर सैर करने का आनंद क्या होता है। दरअसल विश्वामित्र नदी से निकले मगरमच्छ को दो युवक वन विभाग के दफ्तर पहुंचा रहे हैं। #VadodaraFloods pic.twitter.com/chu8lWrLcA
— Dixit Soni (@DixitGujarat) August 31, 2024
Public reaction to the video has been mixed, with some users expressing amazement at the men’s bravery and others adding humorous comments. One user remarked, “They’re handling it so casually, seems like it’s their pet. I wanna be this brave,” while another jokingly commented, “This is wrong, how can a crocodile ride without a helmet?” Others praised the men for their courageous efforts in handling the situation, with one user stating, “Brave people…They handled this very well… Hope they get rewarded.”
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The recent floods in Vadodara have led to significant challenges for the local wildlife and the forest department. Agneeshwar Vyas, Deputy Conservator of Forests in Vadodara Social Forestry Division, reported that teams rescued a total of 24 crocodiles from residential areas between August 27 and 29. Vyas also noted that the teams found 40 crocodiles in the city’s localities after the floods. They successfully released 33 of these crocodiles back into their natural habitat, placed five in a rescue center, and, unfortunately, two died due to accidental causes.
The forest department, under the supervision of district wildlife warden Agneeshwar Vyas, has been working tirelessly to manage the situation. In Vadodara, teams of NGOs and volunteers, along with forest department staff, are actively handling animal rescue operations. When they receive a call on the helpline, the nearest team rushes to the spot to rescue the animals. Vyas highlights the challenges in rescuing crocodiles, explaining that their carnivorous nature and strength prevent tranquilization, so rescuers must physically restrain them.
Vadodara Range Forest Officer Karansinh Rajput also mentioned that the forest department has rescued snakes and turtles, along with crocodiles, from residential areas near the river. These ongoing efforts by the forest department and volunteers are crucial for managing the dangers posed by displaced wildlife during the floods.
