Man caught trying to sell baby crocodile in Surat fish market

The forest department officials of along with members of NGO Prayas rescued a baby crocodile from the fish market. (Source: PTI)

Forest officials caught a man trying to sell a young crocodile in a fishmarket in Amroli area of Surat on Friday. The accused, Mangal Patel said that he had caught the baby crocodile from a pond at his native place at Kamoli village in Vadodara district.

Patel, who earns a living by doing petty jobs resides in Amroli and decided to take the four feet long reptile weighing 15 kilos to the fish market hoping to sell it.

The crocodile became a major attraction drawing not only the attention of fish vendors but even passers by.  Based on a tip off, animal rights activists from an NGO, Prayas, turned up at the spot with forest officials and questioned Patel. He initially denied that he had brought it to sell it, but later confessed.