How the 11-foot-long crocodile turned up at Goa's Morjim beach

An 11-foot-long Mugger crocodile, that was seen doing a ‘high walk’ at Goa's Morjim beach last week, is suspected of making a journey of around 100 nautical miles (185 kilometres) from an inland habitat.

The crocodile was caught on camera by Goa resident Nilesh Bagkar while he was on an early morning stroll on the northern coast of Pernem.

According to Wildlife officials, the reptile is suspected to have migrated from the Kumbharjua Canal situated a few kilometres east of Goa’s capital Panjim, to the Chapora river mouth.

Confirming a strong population of Crocodylus Palustris (crocodile of marsh) in the canal region – pocketed by Mandovi and Zuari river, forest officials claimed that the reptile might have ‘surfed’ (swimming on currents) more than 180 km, through internal rivers and creeks further north, in search of a new habitat.

“Wetlands in the Kumbharjua canal area have a good population of crocodiles. We feel that this crocodile must have swum from there to the river opening near the Morjim beach,” Legal Cell Officer of Goa Forests Department, MV Karkanis told dna.

He said this was the first time that a freshwater crocodile had been spotted and photographed on a beach in the state, and had prompted the department to investigate further. “Our officers started making rounds in and around the river mouth after the news came to light, but the crocodile was not spotted later. We are keeping a watch on all river openings in the coastline regions,” the officer added.

With a capacity to grow up to 16-feet and weighing more than 150 kilos, freshwater crocodiles are found in lakes, rivers and marshes; however they are also known to thrive in man-made reservoirs and irrigation canals. Mugger crocodiles have a tolerance to saltwater and can migrate considerable distances over land and water in search of a suitable area for nesting or prey.