Vadodara : K Ghat Vishwamitri The river in the city reverberated with Sanskrit shlokas uttered by a priest. Dozens of Barodians reached the gathering and offered their condolences. But not for a fellow human being.
First, wildlife activists organized a condolence meeting for a 10-foot-long crocodile found dead in the Vishwamitri river a week ago. This was the fourth crocodile to die in the river within two months.
“He was like a member of our family and stayed with us for so many years. We had seen him many times during our trip to the river. His sudden death pained us and so we decided to pay tribute to the reptile. Glad to see many citizens participating in the meeting,” said Vishal Thakur, a wildlife activist who had organized the meeting with Sanjay Soni on Sunday.
A picture of a crocodile was put up at the venue and wreaths were also offered by the attendees.
The carcass of a reptile weighing about 150 kg was found floating in the river on August 10 in Sayajiganj. Forest officials have started an investigation into the cause of death of the four crocodiles.
“If an Asiatic lion dies in the Gir forest, the villagers express grief for being associated with the big cats. Berodians have coexisted with crocodiles for many decades, but how many actually care for these reptiles? In fact, many people fill the river with garbage. We organized this meeting to involve the citizens in the conservation of the river and the reptiles,” Thakur told TOI.
Citizen Partha Brahmbhatt, who attended the condolence meeting, said, “I knew Vishwamitri is home to hundreds of crocodiles but I thought it was another reptile living amongst us. During the meeting, I learned that crocodiles are part of our eco-system. How important are they to us and they have a family like us. I will now participate in the campaigns for the conservation of these reptiles,” said
Some wildlife lovers proposed that the dead crocodile be named after our freedom fighter Mangal Pandey. Soni, who lives on the banks of the river in Sayajiganj, said, “Just as Pandey’s death has revolutionized the entire country, the death of this reptile will shock people and force the authorities to act.” Every year dozens of crocodiles come out of the river, but none of them ever attack humans because they have learned to live in peace with people, he said.
Thakur and Soni will also launch a campaign to spread awareness about reptiles in schools and colleges in the coming months.
First, wildlife activists organized a condolence meeting for a 10-foot-long crocodile found dead in the Vishwamitri river a week ago. This was the fourth crocodile to die in the river within two months.
“He was like a member of our family and stayed with us for so many years. We had seen him many times during our trip to the river. His sudden death pained us and so we decided to pay tribute to the reptile. Glad to see many citizens participating in the meeting,” said Vishal Thakur, a wildlife activist who had organized the meeting with Sanjay Soni on Sunday.
A picture of a crocodile was put up at the venue and wreaths were also offered by the attendees.
The carcass of a reptile weighing about 150 kg was found floating in the river on August 10 in Sayajiganj. Forest officials have started an investigation into the cause of death of the four crocodiles.
“If an Asiatic lion dies in the Gir forest, the villagers express grief for being associated with the big cats. Berodians have coexisted with crocodiles for many decades, but how many actually care for these reptiles? In fact, many people fill the river with garbage. We organized this meeting to involve the citizens in the conservation of the river and the reptiles,” Thakur told TOI.
Citizen Partha Brahmbhatt, who attended the condolence meeting, said, “I knew Vishwamitri is home to hundreds of crocodiles but I thought it was another reptile living amongst us. During the meeting, I learned that crocodiles are part of our eco-system. How important are they to us and they have a family like us. I will now participate in the campaigns for the conservation of these reptiles,” said
Some wildlife lovers proposed that the dead crocodile be named after our freedom fighter Mangal Pandey. Soni, who lives on the banks of the river in Sayajiganj, said, “Just as Pandey’s death has revolutionized the entire country, the death of this reptile will shock people and force the authorities to act.” Every year dozens of crocodiles come out of the river, but none of them ever attack humans because they have learned to live in peace with people, he said.
Thakur and Soni will also launch a campaign to spread awareness about reptiles in schools and colleges in the coming months.
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