Shahjahanpur: A two-metre-long marsh crocodile, also known as mugger crocodile, was rescued by forest department from a wheat crop field at Ludhori village under Nighasan block of Lakhimpur Kheri district on Friday evening. It was later released into river Sharda.According to forest department officiaIs, it was one of the largest mugger crocodiles they have rescued till date near Dudhwa forests. They said it was a male adult crocodile weighing over 250 kilograms. Forest department took a little over two hours in conduct the rescue operation and released the reptile into river Sharda.The mugger crocodile, said divisional forest officer, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve-buffer zone, Anil Patel was listed as “vulnerable” in the IUNC red list. These reptiles, he said, dig burrows when temperatures drop below 5 degree Celcius. The mugger may have crept into the field from an irrigation canal connected with river Sharda.Giving details, Patel said the mugger was spotted basking in the sun in his wheat field by a farmer, Gayadeen, when he went there in the morning. in Ludhori village of Nighasan block, when he encountered a huge crocodile basking in the sun inside his crop field. For a moment, Gayadeen froze with fear. Then , he ran back to the village, seeking help.Forest department was informed and a rescue team was sent by divisional forest officer DTR(buffer) Anil Patel. The rescue team managed to rescue the reptile with the help of locals and later it was released into its natural habitat.In another incident, a spotted deer strayed into human habitat in search of water and was chased by feral dogs. The frightened deer entered a house in Singahi town. It was locked in a room by the family residing there. The forest department was informed about it. Forest department officials rescued the deer and it was treated at a rescue centre by a local veterinarian.Patel told TOI, “We have rescued a mugger crocodile and a spotted deer that had strayed into human habitat in Nighasan and Singahi areas of Kheri district respectively.

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