SUKKUR: Horrified by presence of three huge crocodiles in the flooded village of Amil in Shikarpur district, a large number of area residents attacked the reptiles with axes, clubs and rocks killing one of them and injuring the two others on Friday.

The villagers filmed the dead crocodile and uploaded their selfies with the carcass on the social media, drawing a mixed reaction from users. The dead crocodile was said to be eight feet long.

Many of the social media users appreciated the villagers’ bravery but many others sharply criticised them for their act of cruelty to wildlife species. The villagers, however, explained that they tried to seek help of local wildlife officials, after realising threat from the reptiles, but without any response. One of them said that the dead crocodile had almost entered his house where his children were present.

Reports from the village, located in Lakhi Ghulam Shah taluka, suggested that the crocodiles had been brought to the area by gushing floodwater that has already hit many villages in Shikarpur district.

Floodwater carrying reptiles to populated areas of upper Sindh

Another report from upper Sindh said that over a dozen villages in the riverine areas of Shikarpur, Ghotki and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts have been badly hit by floodwater.

With Indus flowing in low to medium flood, the river is overtopping its banks at various places along its course in Sindh.

Countless villages in the province, particularly in riverine (katcha) areas, have submerged under two-three feet high floodwater and the canals offtaking Guddu and Sukkur barrages are also overflowing to cause flooding in vast areas, including populated ones.

Strong currents are carrying reptiles, including snakes, crocodiles and other wildlife species, to populated areas. After Thatta district, where four to five crocodiles were spotted in a village a few days back and one of them was caught by local residents, people of Sukkur and Larkana districts are also reporting that reptiles have been spotted in certain villages.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2022