‘They came from ponds’: 40 crocodiles rescued from Haridwar homes and fields, locals fear return; forest dept on alert | Dehradun News

40 crocodiles rescued from Haridwar homes and fields

HARIDWAR: For the first time this monsoon season till Oct, around 40 freshwater crocodiles were rescued from homes, farmlands and residential colonies in Haridwar and Laksar, creating an atmosphere of fear among residents of several villages. Residents said they are concerned about the safety of their children, who go out to play in the fields, grasslands and ponds.The forest department said the reptiles, mostly juveniles, were later released into the Ganga, but villagers fear they may return. Officials believe the crocodiles originated not from the Ganga but from local ponds and reservoirs across Laksar and Pathri regions, where they are believed to have established habitats following the 2013 floods. Haridwar forest division DFO Anirudh Swapnil said on Thursday, “Now, these have become adults and entered residential areas in search of food. We did not find that these freshwater crocodiles came from the Ganga or Banganga, as there is sufficient food for reptiles in both the rivers. We often receive calls from villages in the Laksar region about crocodiles in village ponds. We released the rescued crocodiles into the Ganga and have formed three teams to act immediately when crocodiles are seen in human habitats.”The Haridwar–Laksar belt, commonly known as the Khadar floodplain of the Ganga, is dotted with ponds and small water bodies. During the monsoon, floodwater often inundates villages, creating a passage for reptiles. Officials said this monsoon saw a notable rise in crocodile sightings and rescues compared to previous years, though exact year-on-year figures are unavailable.Villagers remain on edge. Crocodiles have been spotted even inside houses and fields — an unprecedented development in areas such as Jagjeetpur and Kankhal. “Locals are scared about the intrusion of crocodiles. For the first time, reptiles were seen in Jagjeetpur and Kankhal regions,” said resident Divesh Nautiyal. “We requested forest officials to conduct a search in all ponds in Khadar area and not release the rescued crocodiles back into the Ganga,” said Nautiyal.“A project for a crocodile park was prepared for the rescued crocodiles a few years ago, but locals wanted it built elsewhere due to safety concerns. Currently, the project exists only on paper,” said Haridwar ranger Shailendra Negi.