Crocodile caught in Manikganj handed over to Forest Department

A crocodile caught by locals in Manikganj Sadar Upazila has been handed over to the Forest Department.

It was turned over to the department's Wildlife Crime Control Unit around 2:00pm today, said Harirampur upazila Forest Officer Md Shariful Islam.

The crocodile was captured from the Chowkighata area of Hatipara Union on Friday night.

Shariful said residents had spotted a crocodile in the canals of Charbangkhuri in Hatipara union and Tantrkhola in Harukandi union about a month ago. Since then, locals had been too frightened to bathe or allow their cattle into the canals.

"Around 10:00pm on Friday, the villagers of Chowkighat managed to catch the crocodile," said the official.

Rahat Hossain, a resident of Chowkighata, said, "When the crocodile floated in the canal, we were able to catch it with a trap made of rope."

"It is initially believed to be a freshwater crocodile, measuring approximately 10 feet in length," added Forest Officer Shariful.