Crocodile straying in sea captured

A crocodile that was straying in the shallow sea along the Balapitiya Ambalangoda beach has been captured.

It has involuntarily swam towards the sea from Madampe River through Hirewattha outfall about one and half month ago.

It has been straying for about one and half month in the sea among the reefs unable to swim back to the river praying on dogs and similar animals hanging about the beach and the fish caught in the sea.

Yesterday morning a youth in Bandarawattha Balapitiya has glimpsed the crocodile while it was attempting to pounce upon a foreigner enjoying a sea bath. Hearing the screaming of the youth the foreigner had rushed towards land and escaped the danger.

As the roaming of this crocodile in the sea is a threat to life, tourists were reluctant to bathe in the beach. This had led to the low tourist arrival to the hotels.

The hotel owners and fisher youths in the area had at last endevoured to capture the crocodile after a great effort using the fishing nets. But later they found that the crocodile had made off through the net.

However they were able to capture the crocodile with the help of coast guards in the Balapitiya area and was arranging to sent it to the Hikkauwa Wildlife office.

The officials of the Hikkauduwa wildlife office said it would be released to the Boondala crocodile sanctuary.

Video by Anuradha Priyadarshana