Here are two such videos of animals which will shock and amuse you at the same time.
In the first video, a Cuban crocodile is seen on the move, to attack, toward a man inside an enclosure in Gatorland Orlando. Later, the man can also be seen running towards safety.
The short clip was shared on Facebook by a theme park and wildlife preserve in the United States with the caption "CHAINSAW IN ACTION. Our Amazing Cuban Crocodile!"
The second video shows a tiger resting while a mighty elephant approaches it from behind. The predator sensing the presence of the tusker, runs into the jungle without delaying a second.
The video clip is shocking yet amusing as, the tiger who is known for hunting down its prey, is seen running to save his life from an elephant.
The video was shared by IFS Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Surender Mehra on Twitter.
The tiger must have realised that it cannot match the power and strength of the pachyderm. A nightmare for it, of course, wrote a Twitter user.
Jungle surprises..🐅🐘#Wildlife #Wilderness @susantananda3 pic.twitter.com/f7ckcOvk66
— Surender Mehra IFS (@surenmehra) August 20, 2022
The unidentified youth, who is suspected to be mentally unstable, reportedly jumped into the Baitarani river near Aranya Niwas in the town and was stuck on a bamboo pole in the middle of the river.
The fire department officials were pressed into action following which a four-member firefighting team rescued him from the raging river before the crocodiles could spot and attack him. Sources said, the youth did not cooperate, so rescuing him was a challenge for the firefighters.
Speaking to reporters, an eyewitness Rabindra Sahu, said, “I saw the youth while jumping into the river near Aranya Niwas. After swimming for around 300 metres, he got hold of a bamboo pole put in the river to tie fishing boats.”
Dhirendra Behera, a firefighter told OTV, “When we reached the spot, he was already on the bamboo pole, playing in the water by putting his life in danger. He looked mentally challenged. We took a local fisherman’s boat and rescued him.”
“His life was in danger. Had we not reached on time, he would either have been swept away or have become the food of the crocodiles,” Behera said.
As per the official data released in November 2021, a total of 26 people have lost their lives in the human-crocodile interaction over the past 12 years in Kendrapara alone (the neighbouring district of Bhadrak).
Watch the live video here.
Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Divisional Forest Officer J D Pati said that the albino crocodile was sighted in the hatchery and rearing complex of crocodiles at Dangmal in the national park.
Forest personnel have named it 'Sweta'. The national park is now home to three captive albino crocodiles. The three-year-old female crocodile was born in the hatchery from the eggs collected from the wild, he said.
"During my visit to the hatchery on Wednesday, I discovered this albino crocodile and advised the forest personnel to take proper care of this whitish-coloured crocodile," researcher Sudhakar Kar said.
It takes some years for the whitish complexion of an albino crocodile to develop, he said.
Although albino estuarine crocodiles are rare, they have been spotted in the wild in Bhitarkanika.
"During the census last year, we counted 1,768 crocodiles, including 15 albino reptiles, in the rivers, creeks and other water bodies of Bhitarkanika," Kar said.
Forty-year-old 'Gori', hatched and bred by the Forest Department in 1975 as a part of a crocodile conservation programme, was the first albino crocodile spotted in Bhitarkanika.
It had hogged the spotlight over the years for its typical behavioural instinct. Living in captivity since its birth in the national park, the animal continues to shun mating habits.
It had rejected companionship on several occasions in the past. In 2005, another albino crocodile 'Malli' was also born in the hatchery.
The 8-foot-long crocodile was first spotted by the villagers in the pond following which they contacted the Forest Department officials who rushed to the spot and rescued the crocodile.
Video Editor: Surendra Pradhan
Producer: Diptyranjita Patra
The incident took place while Basant Kumar Parida, a cattle-rearer of Srirampur village near Pattamundai was grazing cattle near the river. He had gone to the water body for a wash after attending nature’s call, an eyewitness said.
“I was grazing cattle nearby while he went to the river for a wash. The crocodile suddenly emerged out of knee-length water, clamped its jaws and dragged him into the water swiftly,” said a fellow herder of Basant.
“Hearing his scream, I immediately ran to the spot but could not rescue him as the reptile had already yanked him into the deep water by the time I reached there. Locals also rushed to the spot after I raised an alarm. We informed about the incident to the fire services personnel soon,” he added.
Till the last report came in, the fire personnel with the help of locals and forest department staff were searching river water to trace the missing person.
Locals of the Brahmani riverside villages in Pattamundai and Rajkanika blocks of Kendrapara often allege that they spot crocodiles in the region mostly due to presence of Bhitarkanika National park in the vicinity.
Forest personnel are of the view that people are exposing themselves to the reptile attacks by carelessly entering rivers, creeks and other water bodies near Bhitarkanika and its nearby areas which are infested with crocodiles.
But locals are mostly found disregarding the precautionary warnings given by the forest department.
Several riverside spots have been identified as danger zones because of frequent sighting of reptiles in these places.
The forest officials have also erected barricades with alert signages in several spots near Bhitarkanika to warn people not to venture outside the permission zones to prevent man-crocodile conflicts.
According to sources, one Chaila Das a native of the village was attacked by the reptile while she had gone to attend nature’s call near a nullah.
Though Das sustained multiple injuries on hand, she managed to free herself from the jaws of the crocodile, sources said.
Following the incident, Das was first rushed to Rajnagar community health care centre and later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital Cuttack in a critical condition.
The crocodile was caught by people of MV-78 village with the help of a net, Kalimela forest Range Officer Ramachandra Madkami said.
The crocodile had been spotted in the village pond a few months ago, triggering panic among local residents who managed to catch it today.
After rescuing the crocodile, the villagers informed the forest officials and handed over the reptile to them. The crocodile was later released into the Balimela reservoir in Chitrakonda area around 100 km away, Madkami said.
The reptile was suspected to have sneaked in from the nearby Sitaguda dam, forest officials said while the villagers said the reptile may have been swept into the pond by flood waters two years ago.
Earlier in November last year, a 12-foot-long crocodile, weighing around 500 kg had been found inside a house at Munsa village in Malkangiri.
The victim, Shrikant Sethi, a class 10 student and son of Vichitra Sethi, was taking a bath in the river when the incident occurred at around 11:25 am.
Following the incident, the officials of Forest Department and the Fire Services swung into action and a massive operation has been launched to trace the boy.
"Two brothers were bathing when one of them was dragged into the river by crocodile. We have launched an operation and so far the boy is yet to be traced," said Rajnagar SDPO, Harekrushna Mallick.
Locals have expressed displeasure as people have been falling victims to crocodile attacks more frequently as no secured boundaries have been set up by the forest department near ghats.
Earlier, a 12-year-old boy from Kendrapara district had shown exemplary courage to save his uncle from the jaws of an estuarine crocodile in a creek inside Bhitarkanika National Park on February 20.
The crocodile tried to drag him into the deep river. However, he managed to escape. He has however sustained grievous injuries on left hand. The man whose identity has not been ascertained was rushed to a local hospital.
According to sources, a 10-12 feet long crocodile entered into the house of one Dasaratha Madakami of Munata village when the family members, including his two daughters, were asleep at around 3 am. When Dasaratha woke up, he panicked to find the reptile in his house.
Madakami immediately shifted his daughters to the attic of the house and called villagers for help. Later, some locals rushed to the spot and rescued the two girls. They also managed to catch hold of the reptile and tied it to a tree.
Getting information, a team of forest officials rushed to the spot to rescue the crocodile. It is suspected that the crocodile might have come out from the nearby Sitaguda dam.
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On the other hand, the villagers are terrorised to see such a huge crocodile for the first time in the village.
"I heard about the incident at around 4 am. The villagers managed to catch hold of the reptile and attempted to kill it. But i resisted them and asked them to inform the forest officials," said a villager.
https://youtu.be/U9BQTaJExUI
According to reports, the barrier and wire net set up by forest department is not capable to check the entry of the crocodiles. The barriers at many bathing ghats have broken due to which there is a rise in human-crocodile encounters.
"The villagers use river water for their daily chores but there is no security as the barrier has damaged and crocodiles are spotted regularly," said a villager, Bhakta Nayak.
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Forest department had constructed more than 59 bathing ghats in the area for the benefit of the people. But Divisional Forest Officer of Rajnagar has also agreed that the bathing ghats have dilapidated in absence of required maintenance.
Talking to OTV, DFO Rajnagar Bimal Prasanna Acharya said, "Nearly 50 bathing ghats have been constructed and there is scope for construction of more. We are conducting awareness programme regularly so that people will be safe from the attacks. The lifetime of the bathing ghats is three to five years which can be extended if the locals maintain it."
Later the villagers discovered Rabinarayan’s body from the river bed.
According to sources, the family members of the deceased have demanded compensation from the government.
“My father went to the fields to check water level. When he was late to return we went out in search and found that a crocodile has dragged him inside the river and tossing him in and out of water. By the time we intervened, he was no more,” said deceased’s son, Rajesh Behera.
“The place where the attack happened comes under the Bhitarkanika wildlife range and the staffs have been asked to go to the spot. The family of the deceased will be given ex gratia as per the guidelines and we will facilitate the process through which the kin receive the assistance soon,” said Rajkanika DFO, Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
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Crocodile attacks on humans are prevalent in rivers like Baitarini, Brahmani, Kani, Kharashrota of the district. Even reports of crocodile entering villages and attacking humans have been reported.
Recently, a six-year-old girl was attacked by the reptile in a village inside the Bhitarkanika National park, but was fortunate to escape due to the courage of her seven-year-old sister who fought and warded off the animal.
The CM lauded efforts of Pinki who saved her sister, the victim of attack, of Bankula village of the district and as a token of appreciation, gifted the sisters two cycles.
Patnaik's gesture caught the attention of many as he used his phone and showed keenness to freeze the moment and adjusted the camera to fit in both girls on either sides.
After enquiring about financial condition of the girls, he directed the District collector to facilitate them with all possible support.
On April 6, Pinki and Basanti were washing utensils in the village pond when a crocodile appeared from the waters and caught hold of Basanti’s leg. Pinki displayed courage to play as a saviour for her sister. She hit the crocodile with a bamboo stick, and drove the reptile away. The reptile attack had left Basanti with injuries on her legs and hands but she too faced it all with courage.
Appreciating the act, Collector Muralidhar Mallick has recommended Pinki’s name to State Government for National and State Bravery Awards.
The survivor Basanti Dalai, a standard one student of a government-run primary school in Bankuala village, is undergoing treatment at a government-run hospital. She has sustained multiple wounds on her hand and thigh, but is stated to be out of danger.
Both the girls were taking bath in the village pond when a crocodile leaped from the water and attacked Basanti. However, Tiki immediately picked up a bamboo stick and dealt a blow on the crocodile's head. The reptile, jolted by the sudden attack, left the girl to slip into the water.
“The attack was so sudden that I had little time to react. The stick that was lying near the pond saved my friend from dying”, Tiki, who also studies in the same school, narrated.
Though the attack occurred outside the Bhitarkanika National park limits, the state forest department would bear the cost of treatment and also award compensation to the family of the injured as per revised rules, said Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
“The forest department has initiated a series of measures to save humans and domesticated animals’ from preying crocs. Over a two dozen riverside spots were identified as danger zones because of frequent sighting of reptiles in these places. Warning has been issued to people to avoid these troubled water zones. The bathing ghats which have become vulnerable due to croc intrusion have been barricaded”, said officials.
The annual enumeration, which ended on Wednesday, has put the head-count at 1,682. The census witnessed more 11 crocodiles this time. Last year, the crocodile population in the national park was pegged at 1,671.
The authorities of Bhitarkanika Wildife Sanctuary, home to the largest population of estuarine crocodiles, had carried out the head count operation from January 2 to 8 in the creeks, rivers and water bodies located across the four ranges which include Kanika, Rajnagar, Mahakalpada and Gahirmatha.
As many as 1,303 crocodiles were sighted at Kanika rangeby the census teams.
Talking to newsmen, Acharya said, “Crocodiles don’t come to land due to movement of boats. So, restriction on movement of boats will be imposed on January 2 and 3.”
“Counting of crocodiles will begin from January 4. The census will be conducted at Mahakalapada, Kanila, Gahiramatha and Patasala and Bhitarakanika area in Rajnagar range,” Acharya informed.
Reports said the villagers had seen a crocodile moving in a gorge of Mahanadi on Sunday and informed the forest officials. However, the forest staff reached the site on Monday morning and recovered the dead crocodile from the river.
During the post mortem of the 7-feet long female crocodile at the Athagarh veterinary hospital, the forest staff found eggs from her ovary.
Talking to media persons, Ranger of Athagarh Wildlife Division, Goura Gopal Singh said though the exact cause of the death of the female crocodile was yet to be established, the veterinary surgeon had said the death could be due to anaemia as the crocodile had remained without food for a long time.
“During post mortem, we have found eggs inside the ovary of the crocodile whose age would be over 12 years. We have sent the post mortem report along with the liver, spleen and intestine of the crocodile to the Odisha University of Agriculture Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar to know the exact cause of the death,” Singh added.
The enumerators spotted 44 marsh crocodiles in the reservoir spread over 4 sq km, while 11 were sighted in nearby water bodies during the three-day census by Berhampur Forest Division from January 8 to 10, a forest official said today.
Altogether, 49 crocodiles were spotted last year.
"The entire reservoir and the adjoining water bodies were divided into 10 segments and 40 people engaged for the headcount through direct sighting method," said Divisional Forest Officer, Berhampur A K Behera.
Mugger is one of the three crocodile species found in the state. The other two species are gharial and salt-water crocodile or estuarine crocodile.
"Ghodahada reservoir is considered as one of the potential habitats for muggers after Satakosia and Similipal," Chief Wildlife Warden, S S Srivastava said, adding plans are afoot to develop Ghodahada into an eco-tourism spot.
"The reservoir is in possession of the water resources department. We will discuss the plan with the department officials," Srivastava added.
A total of 1580 crocodiles were sighted in the Bhitarkanika National Park alone while 1284 were found in the Kanika range, 296 in the Rajnagar range, 69 in the Mahakalpada range and 22 in the Gahiramatha range, sources said.
In Patashalamukha, Gururapala, Manhisamada, Kuajora, Bhramaramari, Kathua, Balijor, Khola, Thanapati, Ganjeikhia and Kalibhanjapur, 32 crocodiles of length between 18 and 22 feet were found.
The crocodile census was undertaken by 26 teams in the wildlife sanctuary under chairmanship of Rajnagar DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
Last year, 1665 crocodiles were spotted in the wildlife sanctuary.
For decades, scientists have wondered what the earliest dinosaur relatives looked like. Most assumed that they would look like miniature dinosaurs, be about the size of a chicken, and walk on two legs.
The findings, published in the journal Nature, revealed that this carnivorous creature, unearthed in southern Tanzania, was approximately seven to 10 feet long, with a long neck and tail, and instead of walking on two legs, it walked on four crocodylian legs.
"The discovery of teleocrater fundamentally changes our ideas about the earliest history of dinosaur relatives. It also raises far more questions than it answers," said lead author Sterling Nesbitt, assistant professor at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
The discovery fills a critical gap in the fossil record.
Teleocrater, living more than 245 million years ago during the Triassic Period, pre-dated dinosaurs, were widespread during the Triassic Period and lived in modern day Russia, India, and Brazil.
Furthermore, these cousins existed and went extinct before dinosaurs even appeared in the fossil record, the researchers said.
The intact ankle bones and other parts of the skeleton of the new specimens of teleocrater, helped scientists determine that the species is one of the oldest members of the archosaur tree and had a crocodylian look.
"The teleocrater has unexpectedly crocodile-like features that are causing us to completely re-assess what we thought about the earliest stages of dinosaur evolution," explained Ken Angielczyk, associate curator at The Field Museum of Natural History-- a natural history museum in Chicago, US.
"Surprisingly, early dinosaur relatives were pretty profoundly not dinosaur-like," Angielczyk added
The national park would reopen for visitors on August 1, said park officials. Prohibition is being imposed in view of the breeding season of salt-water crocodiles. Human interference would disturb the breeding animals, they said.
As the reptiles often turn violent and attack intruders during breeding period, the authorities put this restriction to ensure the safety of humans and provide congenial environment to the breeding crocodiles, said Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
As per the latest head count of these animals, 1671 estuarine crocodiles were counted living along the Bhitarkanika s water bodies.
Keeping in view commencement of the breeding season, the Forest department is prioritising safety of local people.
Local residents need to remain watchful and vigilant. People could ensure their own safety by keeping safe distance from crocodile-infested water-bodies, Acharya said.
Crocodiles are found straying from their habitats into water bodies in and around the human settlements.
Man-crocodile conflict often reaches a flash point in peripheral villages of Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary during this period, the DFO said.
The species are itinerant in nature and stray into adjoining water-bodies because of its increase in hyper-salinity contents. After a temporary sojourn, they leave for their permanent habitation corridors within the Bhitarkanika habitation corridors, according to Forest officials.
Wildlife researchers studying on salt water crocs are of the view that habitat of these species is getting squeezed in about 26 square km of water bodies within the national park. These reptiles prefer the ideal water bodies because of its salinity contents. The salinity level in some of the water bodies might be dropping proving less ideal for crocodiles.
The mishap took place when Sanjukta Sethy was engaged in fishing in the crocodile-infested water body. The crocodile, after attacking the woman, was trying to drag the victim into the water, forest officials said.
A group of fishermen who were there at the bathing ghat raised an alarm and rescued the woman.
The victim has sustained multiple injuries and has been admitted in the government-run Mahakalpada Community Health Centre. She is out of danger, hospital officials said.
Areas close to Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary are presently encountering man-croc conflict as breeding season of the reptiles is in full swing.
Human interference in their habitation corridors turns them violent. The reptiles are found showing aggressive behavioural instinct during the nesting season and attack intruding humans, said forest officials.
The latest croc attack occurred outside the national park limits. State forest department would bear the cost of treatment of the woman injured following croc attack, officials said.
Besides the department would also award compensation sum to the injured person s family as per revised rules, said Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division, Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
The school which is situated on the banks of Mantei river remains flooded for four months every year. As a result, the students are forced to attend classes by risking their lives as the spot is vulnerable to crocodile attacks.
"The river is barely few meters away from the school and as flood water enters the premises, snakes can be often spotted in and around the school building. On the other hand, crocodile threat also looms large," said Ranjita Majhi, a guardian
President of School Management Committee, Prafulla Kumar Tarai said,"When the current is high in the river, water enters the school premises making it prone to mishaps".
On the other hand, it is being alleged that despite repeated complaints regarding the plight of the school, the officials are yet to take any concrete measures to resolve such issues.
"There are 136 students and we also having sufficient teachers for the school. But there is no adequate number of classrooms. As there is no kitchen, mid-day-meal is cooked outside," informed Headmaster of the school, Himanshi Sekhar Katha.
The school remains inundated with flood water for which snakes, scorpions often enter the premises, he added.
"We have written letter to the administration and once funds are allocated, new rooms will be constructed," informed Block Education Officer (BEO), Rabindra Narayan Mallick.
Mallick further said that as the school is situated on the banks of Mantei river, water entering the school during high current in the river is natural.
However, the height of the school needs to be increased for which we cannot do anything at our level. But we will certainly inform the concerned officials for appropriate action, Mallick added.
Sources said the reptile was first spotted by local residents while moving in the waters in the excavated parts of the mine.
A three-member team of the snake helpline led by honorary wildlife expert Subhendu Mallick visited the place where the crocodile was first spotted. Forest officials suspect that the reptile may have been swept into the area during the recent flooding.
Since the area is close to human settlement, forest officials informed that the reptile would be caught with a net and released into Chandaka Sanctuary.
Earlier on August 6, a six-feet-long crocodile was rescued from a pond in MV 78 village under Balimela in Malkangiri. Locals of the village rescued the crocodile with the help of a net and handed over the reptile to forest officials.
On getting information, a team of forest officials visited the village yesterday. But they failed to find any trace of animal parts.
“We got information that some people had captured a crocodile and later ate its meat. Subsequently, we had sent our teams but they couldn’t trace its body parts,” said District Forest Officer Pradeep Mirase.
Mirsae further informed that the department has now received information about the persons involved in the incident. “We have constituted three teams to nab the culprits,” he added.
Forest department officials informed that a lot of people are still unaware about wildlife legislations for which such incidents are being reported from remote areas of the State.
“We will form squads to create awareness among people so that they do not kill animals. The teams will also take action against those involved in killing of wild animals,” Mirsae added.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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