Awareness programmes help croc-man live peacefully

Vadodara: Barodians, it seems, have made peace with the jaws with human-crocodile conflict in the city reducing considerably over last three years. They have learnt the art of cohabiting with the crocodiles residing in water bodies in and around the city. The forest department, however, credits itself and says its awareness programmes held along the water-bodies over last four years have resulted in this peace.

“Earlier, the crocodile-human conflict happened frequently as people didn’t have much awareness about the reptile, its activities and behaviour. The forest department undertook aggressive awareness campaigns around the water-bodies where crocodiles are found in good numbers,” said Nidhi Dave, regional forest officer (RFO), Vadodara.

“We took the help of NGOs and volunteers to connect with people staying near Vishwamitri River and other lakes in and around the city. They met people and explained them about behaviour of crocodiles and how one should maintain safe distance from their habitat,” Dave told TOI.

In 2015, the forest department had launched ‘Magar thi sachaviye, magar ne sachaviye’ (Beware of crocodiles, protect crocodiles) campaign with the help of volunteers, Vadodara Municipal Corporation and district collectorate. The department had also installed signboards on the banks of Vishwamitri River and other water bodies that warn people not to enter the water. Pamphlets listing precautions people living near water-bodies should take were distributed in large numbers.

The forest department had also made separate enclosures for washing clothes and toilets so that people don’t venture near the rivers that are infested with crocodiles. Activists say that the forest department’s timely campaigns helped as people are now more aware of the reptile, its behaviour and ways to avoid conflict. As per the last census done by the forest department in 2015, Vishwamitri River is home to over 250 crocodiles while Vadodara district has over 400 crocodiles in different water-bodies.

Earlier, people staying near Vishwamitri often ventured near the river to wash clothes or for other needs where they suffered attacks from crocodiles who are very territorial. “Those staying along Vishwamitri River and other lakes having crocodile population now don’t venture close to the water and take all precautions,” Dave added.

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Crocs killed five in 2014

Crocodile attacks in Vishamitri River, Sama Lake and Asoj Lake took five lives in 2014, while in 2015 only one person was injured from the reptile attack. In 2016, no injury or death was registered from croc attack in the city while in 2017 two injuries were recorded in Vishwamitri River. In 2018, three injuries were recorded while in 2019 no injury or death has been recorded due to crocodile attacks.