3.5-ft-long crocodile rescued from lake near IIT Powai

Members of the rescue team from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) rescued a 3.5-ft-long crocodile from near a small lake adjacent to the Powai Lake yesterday. Following its medical examination, the animal was released back into its natural habitat.

Members of the SGNP rescue team pose with the crocodile they rescued yesterday

Officials of the Mumbai Territorial Range of the Thane Forest Department (TFD), under whose jurisdiction the Powai Lake falls, received a call from the IIT Powai that a crocodile was trapped in fishing net near the small lake.

"After we received the call, we immediately informed the SGNP rescue team. We also reached the spot," said an official from the TFD. The SGNP rescue team comprising veterinary doctor Sanjay Pinjarkar, Sanjay Pagare, Sachin Patil, Namdeo Jhirve, and Raja Bhoir reached the spot around 4.30 pm and rescued the crocodile.

"The male crocodile was trapped in a fishing net near a small lake near the IIT campus. We rescued the crocodile with utmost care," said Pagare. After conducting a thorough medical examination on the old crocodile, it was found fit to be released back into the wild, said Dr Pinjarkar.u00a0