Mumbai:
Only three years ago, Elsie Gabriel remembers standing on a crocodile island in the middle of Powai Lake. "We were researching crocodiles and I remember visiting the place where the reptiles laid their eggs," said Gabriel, a member of the MMRDA-Powai Citizens Committee. Those islands don't exist anymore. "Where does a crocodile go now?" she asks.
Gabriel's concerns are reiterated by other Powai residents, who are rattled by the reptile attack on Vijay Bhure, a crane operator, on Thursday. Bhure was taking a walk around the IIT guesthouse when he was dragged into the lake by a crocodile. Residents are now seeking security measures, like fencing.
But that the reptiles will seek refuge on lands where humans shared space with them is only normal, say environmentalists. "A crocodile is a lazy, docile creature that's only dangerous when provoked. If it has nowhere to go to nest, how do you stop it from coming on land? Illegal fishing in the area has to stop," says Gabriel.
A detailed survey of the crocodile population in the lake is needed. Pallavi Latkar, environmental planner, says there are no current records of crocodiles. She stresses on the need to find the reason for them moving out.
"When there were several leopard attacks in the area, we noticed that garbage piles and stray dogs around the area were attracting the leopards since the dogs made for easy prey. This area is conducive to their growth and survival, so why make them move when we can instead work on improving the area?" she asks.
Crocodile attacks in the past
June 2010- A fisherman sailing on a makeshift tyre in the lake was attacked but managed to wrench his left leg free and paddled to safety.
June 2010- An eight foot-long crocodile carcass was found on the banks of the lake.
March 2009- A vendor fishing at Powai Lake was bitten on the arm. He escaped.
October 2004- A crocodile wandered into the IIT campus and killed a duck. It was captured three days later.
The statistics suggest that what may appear as an isolated event could just be the glaring truth and a potential environmental threat.
Gabriel's concerns are reiterated by other Powai residents, who are rattled by the reptile attack on Vijay Bhure, a crane operator, on Thursday. Bhure was taking a walk around the IIT guesthouse when he was dragged into the lake by a crocodile. Residents are now seeking security measures, like fencing.
But that the reptiles will seek refuge on lands where humans shared space with them is only normal, say environmentalists. "A crocodile is a lazy, docile creature that's only dangerous when provoked. If it has nowhere to go to nest, how do you stop it from coming on land? Illegal fishing in the area has to stop," says Gabriel.
A detailed survey of the crocodile population in the lake is needed. Pallavi Latkar, environmental planner, says there are no current records of crocodiles. She stresses on the need to find the reason for them moving out.
"When there were several leopard attacks in the area, we noticed that garbage piles and stray dogs around the area were attracting the leopards since the dogs made for easy prey. This area is conducive to their growth and survival, so why make them move when we can instead work on improving the area?" she asks.
Crocodile attacks in the past
June 2010- A fisherman sailing on a makeshift tyre in the lake was attacked but managed to wrench his left leg free and paddled to safety.
June 2010- An eight foot-long crocodile carcass was found on the banks of the lake.
March 2009- A vendor fishing at Powai Lake was bitten on the arm. He escaped.
October 2004- A crocodile wandered into the IIT campus and killed a duck. It was captured three days later.
The statistics suggest that what may appear as an isolated event could just be the glaring truth and a potential environmental threat.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
