A problem in the hands of Kandy residents

The release of two baby crocodiles in to a reservoir of the Kandy Municipal Council has posed a new problem to the council officials.

According to Zoologist at the University of Peradeniya the week-old crocodiles would come into its proper size within six months and will need food for which they tend to go for, if they do not find it in the vicinity.

Accordingly, the people around and elsewhere would have a problem on their hands.

The two two-day crocodiles were first found in a sand tipper brought from Toppigala and accordingly the wildlife officials had been informed, but they have requested the driver to take them to the very place they were found and release them there.

But Municipality officials decided to release the small crocodiles to the massive perennial water supply Dumandalawa, which is the reservoir of the Municipality.

This area is out of bounds for anyone, except for the workers within the reservoir,  but the Municipality officials managed to enter the water reserve of Dumandlawa and release the small crocodiles.

Mayor Kesera Senanayake said he has ordered an inquiry.

Environmentalists and others in Kandy feel that there would be a problem once the two crocodiles grow to their full size. They feel that the crocks would invade the Kandy Lake as well which is close to the water reserve.

The issue is that it would be like finding a ‘needle in a haystack' as it would not be possible to locate the crocks in a hurry due to their size at present.

(Text and pix by L.B.Senaratne)