Bettiah/Patna: Panic gripped residents of Bisaha village in Bihar’s West Champaran district on Saturday evening after a seven-foot-long crocodile wandered into a family’s courtyard, triggering a swift response from forest officials and raising fresh concerns about human-wildlife interactions near the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
The crocodile, believed to have emerged from the Tirhut canal, was spotted near a hand pump in the home of Sanjay Mahato, located close to the 6 RD bridge under Valmiki Nagar police station limits. The area lies on the edge of the sprawling tiger reserve, which has seen a rise in wild and aquatic animal sightings in recent months.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with family members sounding the alarm upon discovering the reptile. Villagers quickly alerted the forest department, which dispatched a team led by Ranger Srinivasan Naveen.
“This was a fully grown crocodile, around seven feet in length,” Naveen told reporters. “It had strayed from the canal into a residential area. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the animal has been safely returned to the Gandak river.”
The rescue involved both forest personnel and local villagers, who worked together to capture the crocodile and transport it to a safe location. Video footage circulating on social media showed the dramatic scenes of the animal being secured.
Naveen urged residents near water bodies and forest areas to remain vigilant and avoid approaching or agitating wild creatures. “If anyone sees a wild animal in or around their home, they should immediately contact the forest department and maintain a safe distance,” he added.
