Batticaloa fishermen deal with crocodile threat

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 June 1998, 23:59 GMT]
An 18 foot crocodile which had terrorised local fishermen in the Paddiruppu lagoon near Kaluthavali, 20 km north of Batticaloa, was caught on Tuesday morning, said sources in Valaichenai.

Two fishermen captured the crocodile using the traditional method of baiting - by tying either a pup or an ewe to a sharp stave planted it in the water. The stave in turn is attached to a rope leading to the shore.

When the crocodile swallows the bait, it swallows the pole too, which pierces its inner organs and disables it.

As the reptile struggles to get rid of the stave it is drawn ashore by the fishermen and then killed. Crocodiles have wreaked havoc in the lagoon in and around Batticaloa for the past few months.

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