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Bhitarkanika: Earthen Idols Appease Salt-Water Crocodiles
7 Feb
Summary
- Villagers worship earthen crocodile idols for protection from attacks.
- At least 12 to 15 people die annually from crocodile attacks in Bhitarkanika.
- Forest officials advise against entering rivers and have fenced river ghats.
Many villagers residing near Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapada have resorted to worshipping earthen idols of salt-water crocodiles. This practice, observed in villages like Eakamania and Nalapahi, is a desperate measure to seek protection from increasingly frequent and fatal crocodile attacks. Locals, often engaged in fishing and crab catching for their livelihood, face a perilous reality where an estimated 12 to 15 people lose their lives each year to these predators.
Frustrated by these attacks, which have claimed lives even within their gram panchayats over the past three years, residents are offering prayers, flowers, milk, and bananas to the crocodile deities. However, experts and forest officials emphasize that such worship offers no real safety. Herpetologists advise against entering the rivers altogether, and the forest department has implemented measures such as fencing 120 river ghats and ponds to deter villagers from approaching the water bodies.
