Kerela’s ‘harmless’ crocodile passes away at 75

Kerela’s vegetarian temple crocodile who loved eating rice passed away at the Sri Anandapadmanabha Swamy temple in Kasargod.

Babiya, the 75-year-old, ‘harmless’ crocodile had not been eating properly for the past few days and was found near the temple pond on Sunday. Later, a veterinary doctor confirmed its death.

The crocodile who lived in the lake near the temple used to roam around the temple premises – an unusual practice but temple officials claimed he was “harmless.” The carcass was found floating on the lake around 11:30 pm on Sunday night.

The crocodile was the main attraction for visitors to the temple complex in a village called Ananthpura in Kasaragod district of Kerela.

The gentle crocodile was believed to be a vegetarian. No one in the temple knew how Babiya came to the temple pond and who named it. It is believed that the reptile has been living in the temple pond for over 70 years and has no history of wild behaviour.

As per wildlife experts, Babiya was a mugger crocodile. Temple offerings were like a food supplement to her. In the wild, crocodiles prey on fish, rodents, and reptiles and at times a bigger catch.