The Watchful Reptile
Based off an article penned by Ritesh Mishra from Hindustan Times edition Jan 10, 2019 In the heart of the lush forests of Chattisgarh, a unique tale unfolded, defying the conventional narrative of fear and danger associated with the wild. A forest department official, RK Sinha, stood amidst the verdant surroundings, estimating the age of an extraordinary inhabitant of the region - a crocodile that had lived an astonishing 130 years. The remarkable longevity of this creature spoke volumes about the delicate equilibrium that had been established between humans and predators in this sylvan haven. As the news of the crocodile's passing spread, the local community gathered to bid farewell to their unlikely guardian. RK Sinha, the sub-divisional officer (forest), shared insights into the post-mortem process, emphasising that the creature had succumbed to the inevitability of natural causes. The villagers, intimately connected to the rhythms of the forest, participated in the so...