File picture of a crocodile in Bhitarkanika National Park

Kendrapara, Aug. 25: A group of fishermen have allegedly hacked a 12-feet-long estuarine crocodile to death, in the latest bout of man-animal conflict. The incident took place in the core area of Bhitarkanika National Park.

Forest officials spotted the slain crocodile near south Kalibhanjadijha island yesterday night.The body bore multiple injury marks. The crocodile was held captive after which, it was assaulted with sharp-edged weapons. The crocodile had strayed into human settlement areas and had reportedly killed domestic animals. This drove local residents to kill the reptile which has been accorded “protected” status under wildlife legal provisions.”

As estuarine crocodile is a scheduled and protected animal, a case under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, has been registered. The reptile’s body has been sent for post-mortem to Bhubaneswar-based veterinary institute,” said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Division.

The crocodile is believed to have fallen prey to unlawful fishing in prohibited waterbodies. It might have got entangled in fishing nets. Later, the fishermen killed it.

As the dead animal bore marks of injury, it could be a case of unnatural death, said an official.

In the recent past, salt-water crocodiles on the prowl have often trespassed into waterbodies in and around human settlements close to the sanctuary, triggering panic among villagers.

In the past one year, nine adult and sub-adult salt water crocodiles have been killed after entering human habitats. The species stray into adjoining waterbodies because of its increase in hypersalinity contents.

After a sojourn, they leave for their permanent habitation within the Bhitarkanika corridors, said a forest official. Around 1,646 estuarine crocodiles were counted living along the Bhitarkanika’s waterbodies this year.