Caught in action: Residents shoot down crocodile chasing man
Wildlife dept vows to take action against suspects.
Even after visiting the village, Shah was unable to confirm who shot the crocodile. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
A lone crocodile chasing a man sent a wave of panic among the residents of Ramazan Hijab village near Thatta, forcing them to shoot it down before the wildlife department could reach.
On September 9 at around 2:20am, a man - who refused to share his name fearing punishment by the wildlife department - started screaming when he found a crocodile near a fishpond chasing him. Alerted by his screams, several other residents rushed to the site and shot the reptile. “They [residents] thought the crocodile was attacking the man,” explained another resident, also requesting anonymity. “It is a dangerous animal.”
According to the people in this village located around 20 kilometres from Thatta, three to four crocodiles have been spotted near the fishpond that has spread fear among the women and children.
The day after the shooting, the residents brought the reptile’s body to an old factory and kept it on display. Several residents gathered to see the display, whispering to their fellows that it was a good thing the crocodile was dead, said one of the participants.
The residents of the same village had killed a similar-sized crocodile nearly three years ago and the wildlife department did not take any action, recalled a man. “They didn’t even take the necessary measures to keep these dangerous animals aside,” he said.
“There are thousands of people living in the vicinity and women and children are especially afraid of these animals,” pointed out Abdul Ghafoor Hajib, the chairperson of Sindh Peace and Development Society. “I appeal to the wildlife officials to take appropriate measures otherwise more crocodiles will be killed in the coming days.”
A field officer of the World Wildlife Fund, Ghulam Rasool Khatri, said the movement of the crocodile indicated that it was hungry. “I doubt the people killed it out of fear that it will attack,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, the wildlife department has been trying to figure out if the incident was an accident or an attempt to hunt the reptile. Fazal Shah, the game officer of the Sindh Wildlife Department, told The Express Tribune that investigations are underway. “Stern action will be taken if someone found guilty,” Shah pledged. “It is illegal to kill these animals.”
Even after visiting the village, Shah was unable to confirm who shot the crocodile. He assured, nevertheless, that the culprits will be traced soon. The government officials were, however, informed of the shooting three days after it took place.
According to Shah, there are around 150 crocodiles that live in and around Haleji Lake. “These crocodiles don’t harm anyone,” he said, adding, however, that a minor girl was injured in 2002 when a female crocodile came out of its sanctuary.
In last week’s case, the fact that the villagers kept the body on display as also a crime, claimed Shah. “We are trying to investigate the whole incident and will try to convince people not to kill such animals in the future,” he said.
Sindh Wildlife Conser-vative’s Saeed Akhtar Baloch told The Express Tribune that the FIR will be registered against the men who shot the crocodile. “No one has the right to kill these animals,” he said. “The residents are well aware that crocodiles could migrate from one location to another and they don’t harm until they are teased.”
The residents are, however, refusing to change their ways. They said they will kill a crocodile again if the authorities fail to take action and keep the reptiles in safe sanctuary. These animals are hungry and are not fed properly so they could harm anyone, said a resident. “It is better to kill one rather than waiting for the officials to take them to a proper location.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2013.
A lone crocodile chasing a man sent a wave of panic among the residents of Ramazan Hijab village near Thatta, forcing them to shoot it down before the wildlife department could reach.
On September 9 at around 2:20am, a man - who refused to share his name fearing punishment by the wildlife department - started screaming when he found a crocodile near a fishpond chasing him. Alerted by his screams, several other residents rushed to the site and shot the reptile. “They [residents] thought the crocodile was attacking the man,” explained another resident, also requesting anonymity. “It is a dangerous animal.”
According to the people in this village located around 20 kilometres from Thatta, three to four crocodiles have been spotted near the fishpond that has spread fear among the women and children.
The day after the shooting, the residents brought the reptile’s body to an old factory and kept it on display. Several residents gathered to see the display, whispering to their fellows that it was a good thing the crocodile was dead, said one of the participants.
The residents of the same village had killed a similar-sized crocodile nearly three years ago and the wildlife department did not take any action, recalled a man. “They didn’t even take the necessary measures to keep these dangerous animals aside,” he said.
“There are thousands of people living in the vicinity and women and children are especially afraid of these animals,” pointed out Abdul Ghafoor Hajib, the chairperson of Sindh Peace and Development Society. “I appeal to the wildlife officials to take appropriate measures otherwise more crocodiles will be killed in the coming days.”
A field officer of the World Wildlife Fund, Ghulam Rasool Khatri, said the movement of the crocodile indicated that it was hungry. “I doubt the people killed it out of fear that it will attack,” he claimed.
Meanwhile, the wildlife department has been trying to figure out if the incident was an accident or an attempt to hunt the reptile. Fazal Shah, the game officer of the Sindh Wildlife Department, told The Express Tribune that investigations are underway. “Stern action will be taken if someone found guilty,” Shah pledged. “It is illegal to kill these animals.”
Even after visiting the village, Shah was unable to confirm who shot the crocodile. He assured, nevertheless, that the culprits will be traced soon. The government officials were, however, informed of the shooting three days after it took place.
According to Shah, there are around 150 crocodiles that live in and around Haleji Lake. “These crocodiles don’t harm anyone,” he said, adding, however, that a minor girl was injured in 2002 when a female crocodile came out of its sanctuary.
In last week’s case, the fact that the villagers kept the body on display as also a crime, claimed Shah. “We are trying to investigate the whole incident and will try to convince people not to kill such animals in the future,” he said.
Sindh Wildlife Conser-vative’s Saeed Akhtar Baloch told The Express Tribune that the FIR will be registered against the men who shot the crocodile. “No one has the right to kill these animals,” he said. “The residents are well aware that crocodiles could migrate from one location to another and they don’t harm until they are teased.”
The residents are, however, refusing to change their ways. They said they will kill a crocodile again if the authorities fail to take action and keep the reptiles in safe sanctuary. These animals are hungry and are not fed properly so they could harm anyone, said a resident. “It is better to kill one rather than waiting for the officials to take them to a proper location.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2013.