Bagerhat shrine’s crocodile shifted to Khulna rehab centre

The lone surviving crocodile from the historic pond of the shrine of Khan Jahan Ali in Bagerhat has been relocated to Khulna and placed in a holding enclosure at a wildlife rehabilitation facility, marking the end of a centuries-old association with the shrine.

The crocodile was transferred on Wednesday afternoon to the Khulna Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre. Forest officials said the animal will remain under observation and receive care for several days to normalise its behaviour before a decision is made regarding its eventual release or relocation to a suitable freshwater habitat.

Six crocodiles imported from India’s Madras Crocodile Bank Trust were released into the shrine pond on June 26, 2004. Over the years, all but one died, leaving the relocated crocodile as the sole survivor.
Divisional Forest Officer Nirmal Kumar Pal of the Khulna Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre confirmed that the crocodile had been brought to the facility.

“The crocodile is currently at the rehabilitation centre and will remain here for a few days. Further action will be taken as per the authorities’ decision,” he told The New Nation on Thursday.

Azad Kabir, Officer-in-Charge of the Karamjal Point of the Sundarbans, also told The New Nation that the crocodile has been kept at the Khulna Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.

Senior forest officials, including Conservator of Forests Imran Ahmed and Divisional Forest Officer of the Sundarbans West Division A.Z.M. Hasanur Rahman, were present during the transfer. The operation was also attended by senior officials from the district administration and the Forest Department, along with a specialist team from Karamjal and shrine caretakers.

The relocation follows a fatal incident on June 1, when a child, Fatema Akter, was reportedly dragged into the pond by the crocodile. Her body was recovered the following day.

At a meeting held on June 2 at the conference room of the Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner’s office, local authorities decided to relocate the crocodile from the shrine pond.

With the transfer, the centuries-old association between crocodiles and the approximately 650-year-old pond of the Khan Jahan Ali shrine has effectively come to an end.