Vadodara: A large crocodile was found dead in the Vishwamitri river near Kashiba Children Hospital in Karelibaug on Saturday, marking the ninth crocodile death in the past seven months.The crocodile was first spotted by workers involved in the Vishwamitri river project near the hospital. When the animal remained motionless for several hours — a rare but not unheard-of behaviour — they alerted rescuers, who suspected it may have died.Forest department officials later arrived at the spot and confirmed the death. The crocodile’s body was taken for an autopsy to determine the exact cause.Range forest officer Karansinh Rajput said the reptile was approximately nine to ten years old and measured around 11 feet in length. “Prima facie, it appears to have died of natural causes, but we are awaiting the detailed autopsy report,” he added.Crocodile deaths in the Vishwamitri river have raised concerns among conservationists. Herpetologist Raju Vyas had highlighted the issue in a research paper published in 2023, noting the unexplained pattern of fatalities despite a steadily growing crocodile population in the river.Vadodara: A large crocodile was found dead in the Vishwamitri river near Kashiba Children Hospital in Karelibaug on Saturday, marking the ninth crocodile death in the past seven months.The crocodile was first spotted by workers involved in the Vishwamitri river project near the hospital. When the animal remained motionless for several hours — a rare but not unheard-of behaviour — they alerted rescuers, who suspected it may have died.Forest department officials later arrived at the spot and confirmed the death. The crocodile’s body was taken for an autopsy to determine the exact cause.Range forest officer Karansinh Rajput said the reptile was approximately nine to ten years old and measured around 11 feet in length. “Prima facie, it appears to have died of natural causes, but we are awaiting the detailed autopsy report,” he added.Crocodile deaths in the Vishwamitri river have raised concerns among conservationists. Herpetologist Raju Vyas had highlighted the issue in a research paper published in 2023, noting the unexplained pattern of fatalities despite a steadily growing crocodile population in the river.
