Jacala’s tale: Goat-eating crocodile caught

SUKKUR: A nine-foot-long crocodile was caught by residents of Nabi Bux Mangrio village near Salehpat on Sunday. Witnesses claim that the crocodile had entered the village and attacked a goat. The attack caused a commotion and forced the villagers to take action. They caught the crocodile and used a rope to tie the large reptile to a tree. The villagers informed the wildlife department immediately and their team reached the village and released the crocodile into the Nara Canal. Deputy conservator Taj Mohammad claimed that the crocodile had died soon after his team had released him into the canal. “The crocodile might have come out of the canal in search of food,” he said. “Food has been scarce for them since the irrigation department reduced water levels in the Sukkur Barrage because of the rains.” Nara is one of the biggest canals connected to the barrage and is a natural habitat for crocodiles. At the moment about 300 crocodiles could be in it.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th,  2011.