KalingaTimes Correspondent
Kendrapara (Orissa), Dec 5: Mystery shrouds the death of a rogue male estuarine crocodile that had unleashed a reign of terror with its violent instinct in Orissa's Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary.

The motionless body of the croc was found drifting along the Bhitarkanika's water bodies recently.

Forest officials often used to sight the 16.2-foot long reptile in and around Khola creek that connects the Bhitarkanika river system. It was feared for its hotheaded and intemperate instinct.

"The body did not bear any sign of external injury. Its death might have due to natural cause. Till the post mortem findings are received, we tempt to believe that the croc died a natural death. Still we are
not ruling out possible killing of the reptile," said a forest official.

The reptile's body has been buried in the mangrove forest. It would later be exhumed and its skeletal remains would be preserved in the forest department wildlife museum, added officials.

As the crocodile had a track record of running amuck, the Bhitarkanika national park authorities had earlier sounded a note of caution to tourists and local settlers on possible attack of the man-eating animal.

Despite its rogue instinct, the croc was one of the prime tourist attractions of Bhitarkanika sanctuary.

In early morning hours of wintry months, it was used to bask under the sun. The rough and skinny texture of its body shone under sunrays much to the delight of wildlife tourists.

Before its death, the delicate male species had developed strong dislike for any form of human interference in its tranquil habitat.

Though it did not kill humans for quite some time now, it has devoured three to four cattle in past months.

It is being believed that the giant croc had killed five persons since the wildlife sanctuary came up in Bhitarkanika in 1975.

In terms of size and shape, it was one of the largest estuarine crocodiles inhabiting along the innumerable nullahs and creeks that crisscross the water bodies in this internationally acclaimed wetland.