Third crocodile death in a month raises concern in Vishwamitri

Vadodara: A 14-foot-long crocodile was found dead in the Vishwamitri river in the city on Tuesday. The reptile was seen floating in the Fatehgunj stretch, after which the forest department was alerted.Forest officials said the male crocodile likely died due to a fight over territory or mating. "The crocodile had injuries on its jaw. It appears it got into a fight with another crocodile and suffered grievous wounds. As it is the mating season, it may have been attacked by another aggressive male," said Karansinh Rajput, range forest officer (RFO), Vadodara.The reptile was around 45 years old, and its age may have also contributed to its death. "We retrieved the carcass from the river and conducted a postmortem," Rajput added.This is the third crocodile death in the Vishwamitri in the city in the past month. Last month, a four-foot-long crocodile was found dead in the Akota stretch, followed by another five-foot-long reptile in the same area.Officials said the crocodile population in the river has increased significantly in recent years, leading to more frequent territorial clashes among the reptiles.