WATCH: Locals capture marsh crocodile near Balochistan’s Dasht River

Local residents near the Dasht River in Balochistan's Kuntani Hor region captured a marsh crocodile, sparking concerns over the conservation of the species in Pakistan.

The crocodile, identified as a marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), measuring over four metres in length, was apprehended by villagers before being tethered to a wooden pole while awaiting release further north. The incident occurred approximately 20 kilometres north of Jiwani, off the coast of Balochistan.

Crocodiles are a familiar sight in many coastal rivers along the Balochistan coast, including the Hub, Hingol, Basul, and Dasht rivers. These waterways are known for harbouring large crocodile populations, with some often exceeding four meters in length.

Read more: Indus river dolphin shot dead by villagers

Traditionally, local communities in Sindh and Balochistan have respected and even revered crocodiles, considering them to hold religious significance, akin to the Muggar of Mango Pir. However, instances of conflict arise when crocodiles encroach upon residential areas, prompting locals to take action, albeit rarely, against the reptiles.

Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor at WWF-Pakistan, highlighted the precarious state of crocodile populations in Balochistan's rivers, noting that the largest concentrations are found in the Hingol and Basul rivers.

He said that WWF-Pakistan has swiftly responded to the incident, dispatching a team to Kuntani and liaising with the Balochistan Wildlife Department to orchestrate the crocodile's safe release.

Sudheer Ahmed, Field Officer at WWF-Pakistan, cautioned locals against interacting with the captured crocodile due to its potentially aggressive nature, emphasising the importance of conserving these apex predators.

Khan stressed the urgent need for community awareness initiatives to safeguard Pakistan's crocodile populations, citing the species' vulnerable status on the IUCN red list.

He underscored the grave threats faced by crocodiles in Pakistan, attributing their plight to habitat degradation and human-wildlife conflict exacerbated by their wide distribution across challenging environments.