PAWS to oppose relocation of crocodiles

[Guest guest]

Please correct me if I am mistaken, but if there is hostility toward the

crocodiles in the place where they now live, maybe they are better off

shifted to a more expansive and suitable location?

 

On 6/12/09, NileshBhanage <NileshBhanage wrote:

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> http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1264114

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> PAWS to oppose relocation of crocodiles

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> Ashwin Aghor / DNA

> Friday, June 12, 2009 0:12 IST

> Mumbai: Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Thane has decided to

> oppose the decision to relocate two crocodiles in Upavan Lake in Thane.

> Deputy chairman of state Legislative Council Vasant Davkhare has given

> an ultimatum of 15 days to the administration to shift the reptiles.

> " The state government wants to relocate the two crocodiles living in

> Upavan Lake, Pokhran Road, Thane (W) for almost past two decades. Till

> date, there are no reports of any crocodile attack. Moreover, there is

> no guarantee that the reptiles would survive at the new location, " said

> Nilesh Bhange, PAWS, Thane.

> The NGO has appealed to all animal and nature lovers to join the fight

> to stop relocation of the reptiles. " We have appealed people to write a

> letter to the state forest minister Babanrao Pachpute stating that the

> crocodiles have not harmed anyone till date. Instead of relocating the

> reptiles, administration should fence the lake, " Bhange said. There are

> high possibilities that the crocodiles would die during transit and

> chances of their survival at a new place are dim, he added.

> According to Bhange, rapid urbanisation in the area has already

> devastated the ecosystem and only two crocodiles could manage to survive

> as ample food is available in the lake.

> After making the administration work overtime to change the abbreviated

> signboards at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus,

> Davkhare has now issued a 15-day ultimatum to the state government to

> shift two crocodiles out of the Thane lake.

> Davkhare issued the suo motu order, asking the government to remove the

> crocodiles immediately from Upavan Lake, as they posed a danger to

> swimmers and the people coming there for Ganesha idol immersion.

> For several years, a notice put up at the lake warned people about the

> crocodiles, but no action was taken to shift them. Pachpute has agreed

> to act on Davkhare's directives and said experts from Hyderabad will be

> summoned to capture the crocodiles and shift them elsewhere.

> However, environmental activist Mayur Kamat said: " The lake is

> surrounded by buildings. Crocodiles come out of water to bask in the

> sun. But here, they are unable to do so. Crocodiles are schedule I

> animals and must be protected. "

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