Mahakalpara: Forest Department officials Sunday recovered eggs of an estuarine crocodile after local residents spotted the reptile guarding its eggs near a bush in Kendrapara district. The reptile was also relocated.
The incident occurred in Arada village located on the banks of Gabari river under this forest division.
Some of the villagers came across a nest of an estuarine crocodile where the reptile was seen guarding its eggs. They immediately informed the Forest Department.
Later a team of the Department reached the spot and following the direction of Asst Conservator of Forest (ACF) Bijay Kumar Parida, they recovered the eggs safely.
When contacted, Parida said, “The crocodile has been released into a nulla in Bhitara Kharnasi reserve forest. And the eggs will be taken to Bhitarakanika sanctuary”.
Worth mentioning, crocodiles usually mate and the females lay eggs during the months of May and June. It is the female crocodile that keeps guarding its nest. During this period, mothers become aggressive and there are precedence of them attacking human beings who accidentally venture near their nests.
PNN