A baby crocodile was found at the Mahatma Gandhi Swimming Pool in Dadar in Mumbai on Tuesday morning. The lifeguard spotted the reptile swimming in the pool, and then captured it, but he was bitten in the process, according to reports.
The baby crocodile has been safely kept inside a drum.
Coordinator of the Mahatma Gandhi Swimming Pool Sandeep Vaishampayan told media that its staff routinely checks the pool in the morning before carrying out any exercise. “Today, our staff found a baby crocodile in this Olympic-size swimming pool. With the help of experts, it was rescued and handed over to the forest department.”
An official at the pool said the crocodile must have come from a private zoo nearby.
Similar incidents have taken place in the past when snakes had slithered from the private zoo on to the roads, causing panic among people.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande has demanded strict action against the private zoo. “This private zoo is unauthorised. Earlier, snakes had come out of this zoo and caused panic in public. Who is responsible for these reptiles and animals attacking people or these reptiles and animals getting hurt in public? Who has given this private zoo permission to keep these animals? Whose political influence have they got?” asked Deshpande.
He further told media that the private zoo is built on the land that belongs to the BMC. “Many a times, the officials of this swimming pool have complaint to the authority. If you see the condition of this private zoo, it is really bad. In such a scenario, why is the forest department not taking any action?”
Deshpande is likely to meet BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal today, and raise the issue along with the delegation of MNS leaders.
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