19 January,2018 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
A baby crocodile has been stuck inside a garbage pit in Mulund for over 10 days now. The forest department is waiting for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to clear the garbage before attempting a rescue of the animal.
The crocodile is around two to three feet long. It was initially spotted by local residents at Mulund's Amar Nagar who informed the authorities. Meanwhile, the BMC has been trying to pump out the water that filled the pit from nearby sewage lines and overflowing lakes, since January 8.
According to a report in the Indian Express, Jitendra Ramgaonkar, the Thane chief conservator of forest is reported to have stated, "Once we received the complaint, our team visited the area where the crocodile was seen. There is a lot of garbage and muddy water. Since it requires the use of pumps that are available with the BMC, we have asked them to clear it to enable the rescue. Once they clear it, we can immediately conduct the rescue operation."
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In addition to the water, the pit is also covered with a thick pile of garbage. The IE report also quotes Pawan Sharma of the Resqink Association For Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) as having stated, "They removed the water from the pit but the garbage was still there. There is at least eight to 10 feet of muck below and then four to five feet of water covered by all sorts of garbage. This makes it very difficult to spot the crocodile. Until they clear the garbage, we cannot do anything. Even if we step in, our people will drown. The crocodile was last spotted yesterday (Wednesday). But when it comes out, people pelt stones and scare it away."
Sharma reportedly added, "If it has survived so long, it will survive for some more time. There is no dearth of food in the drain as there are dead rats and birds. But the toxicity of the water raises concerns. Only when we rescue it will we know what effect the water has had on it. Since it is not its habitat, it will clearly have an impact." The crocodiles found in Mumbai are marsh crocodiles and usually reside in the Tulsi and Vihar lakes, as well as, the Powai lake.
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