A huge crocodile has finally been caught in a canal that flows out of a branch river of the Padma in Manikganj.

The rare animal, about 13 feet long, was caught in a special trap set by local people in the Chaukighata area of Hatipara union in Sadar upazila on Friday night (7 November). Hundreds of curious people crowded there that night to see it.

Locals said the crocodile had been seen for the past month in the canal in the Hatipara and Harirampur areas of Sadar upazila. People were frightened, and many stopped going into the canal, though its presence also stirred intense curiosity.

Local people had seen the crocodile there from Friday morning, and later trapped it cleverly. After it was caught, its mouth was tied, it was kept safely, and the local forest department was informed immediately.

Nature and wildlife experts say the presence of a crocodile in this part of the Padma is very rare. They believe it may have drifted in from the main Padma or from some nearby waterbody.

Harirampur upazila forest officer Shariful Islam told Jagonews that he had learned of the capture from local people and was at the scene. A team is coming from Dhaka, and the next decision will be taken once it arrives, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.