Noakhali, Bangladesh: The Forest Department has rescued a saltwater crocodile that was kept illegally in a pond in Companyganj upazila of Noakhali for 35 years. The crocodile was rescued from the Charhazari area of the upazila on Saturday afternoon. It was released into the water body of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Safari Park in Dulhajara of Cox's Bazar on Sunday morning. Hundreds of people gathered yesterday to watch the rescue operation of the crocodile from the pond.

According to the forest department and local sources, the local man who brought two crocodile hatchlings from the Sundarbans in 1989 and released them in the pond and started rearing them. One of the crocodiles died about 20 years ago. The rest was another crocodile. Last year, someone spread information on Facebook that the landlord was illegally rearing a saltwater crocodile trapped in a pond. A six-member delegation led by Rathindra Kumar Biswas, wildlife and biodiversity conservation officer of the Wildlife and Crime Control Unit, rescued the crocodile from the spot yesterday. Later, the crocodile was released at Dulhajara Bangabandhu Safari Park.

Noakhali Coastal Forest Officer Abu Yusuf and Wildlife Inspector Nargis Sultana were present during the rescue operation. No legal action was taken against the crocodile owner for helping in rescuing the crocodile. Local resident Jahirul Islam said the locals knew the house as 'Crocodile House' due to crocodile rearing for many years. Rathindra Kumar Biswas, chief wildlife and biodiversity conservation officer of the rescue team, told Prothom Alo that the matter came to the notice of the Forest Department last year. Keeping crocodiles in such an illegal manner is contrary to the Wild Life (Conservation and Protection) Act-2012. No legal action was taken against the owner as he voluntarily handed over the crocodile.

Source: (Prothomalo)