The crocodile has now been launched into the Ghagra river
New Delhi:
Villagers in Uttar Pradesh had been initially alarmed once they discovered a crocodile lurking within the native pond. However then they hatched a plan — to demand a ransom.
The eight-foot reptile from a close-by nature reserve turned up within the village of Midania in Uttar Pradesh after monsoon flooding on Tuesday, officers mentioned.
Anil Patel, an official answerable for the buffer zone across the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve advised AFP that the locals caught the crocodile after which demanded Rs 50,000 to present it again.
“It took us hours to persuade them with assist from native police and authorities to launch the crocodile,” Mr Patel mentioned.
The villagers had been additionally threatened with authorized motion, with officers explaining that they risked being jailed for as much as seven years.
The crocodile, Mr Patel mentioned, is free now. “We launched it into the Ghagra river the identical day.”
“They’d no concept that the crocodile was a protected animal underneath the Wildlife Safety Act. It is vital for us to teach extra individuals about wildlife,” he added.
