Residents of a village in India have demanded a ransom to hand over a crocodile found in a pond to the authorities.
According to the French news agency AFP, the incident took place in the village of Midian in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where the villagers first informed the authorities about the eight-foot-long crocodile, but later planned to demand a ransom.
Officials told the news agency that the crocodile entered the pond from a tiger reserve near the village due to floods in the state.
Locals caught the crocodile and later demanded INR 50,000 for its return, official Anil Patel said.
It took us hours to convince them, with the help of the local administration and the police, to hand over the crocodile.
The villagers were also threatened with legal action and told they could be jailed for up to seven years for the crime.
According to official Anil Patel, the crocodile was released in a nearby river on the same day.
He said the villagers were completely unaware that crocodiles are listed under the Animal Protection Act and the incident shows how important it is to educate people about wildlife.
0 Comments