Please let stranded crocodile leave the sea and go on its way

While urging people to allow the Saltwater crocodile in the waters off Wellawatte-Dehiwela to access a moya kata (where the canals flow into the sea) to enable it to proceed on its migratory route, a high-level wildlife official said that ‘live traps’ had been set for the smaller one spotted near the Port City.

The Director of Wildlife Health, Dr. Tharaka Prasad of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) said that it would be difficult to catch the bigger Salty spotted off Wellawatte-Dehiwela with live traps as the waves are strong and the sea rough.

He refers with regret to an incident about two years ago, when people blocked a moya kata and a crocodile died. Crocodiles are protected species in Sri Lanka.

It is normal for these crocodiles to use the sea route for their migration to other areas and it was unfortunate that the person who was snorkelling had been grabbed by his shoulder by the crocodile. This person may have choked on his snorkelling gear and drowned when the crocodile was dragging him to the seabed. The DWC’s Western Province Range Office at Bellanwila is on alert.

He explained that as crocodiles are cold-blooded creatures, they cannot regulate their body temperature. So when they are in the sea, to adjust their temperature which drops because the seawater is cold, they need to come to land.

Stressing that he understands the feelings of the kupitha wechcha people, Dr. Tharaka, however, appeals to them to allow the stranded crocodile to leave the sea and go on its way.