The problem of large wild animals like elephants, rhinos, and tigers entering settlements near the park is not new. Wild boars, leopards, and monkeys have been causing havoc by eating crops.

In recent years, reptiles such as Magar crocodiles, pythons and Goman snakes have also started causing trouble in the park and settlements near the river.

Most of the reptiles rescued by Chitwan National Park in recent times are just such reptiles. Bimala Bote's house is located on the banks of the Rapti River, which flows through the park's border. Last Friday night, she had a close encounter with a Magar crocodile at home. Since then, she has not been able to sleep well.

Her mud house is about 300 meters away from the river. The Magar crocodile came to the hut where her three-year-old daughter and husband Vishal live. 'Nanda's wedding was held. The previous evening, we went to work at Nanda's house, which is a short distance from our house. Since we had to come early the next morning, we rushed to sleep at 10 pm,' said Bimala. Her husband Vishal works as a wage laborer in the village. That day, he had gone to work on rice and straw. Due to fatigue, Bimala could not find Vishal sleeping. But she could not sleep because of a sound. ‘I could not sleep because of the sound of something crawling and scratching,’ Bimala said.

Next to the house where they slept, there was a small hut where they used to tie goats during the day and cook food at other times. She guessed that something was going on there and went out with her mobile phone to see. ‘When I saw a Magar crocodile there around 12 midnight, I was shocked,’ said Bimala. ‘There was a huge Magar crocodile in front of me. What did I do when I was scared.’

Bimala, who is from Ramechhap, saw a Magar crocodile from so close for the first time. At that time, her husband Bishal woke up and informed the district president of Nepal Bote Society, Pradeep Bote, and the park. When the news of the crocodile entering the village reached the park, it was 1:30 am. Even though the rescue team reached within half an hour, the crocodile escaped and headed towards the river. ‘We are with a small child. Who can sleep when you see a crocodile coming near the place where you sleep at night? I have not been able to sleep since that day,’ said Bimala.

The Chitwan National Park team has been working tirelessly to rescue Magar crocodiles like at Bimala’s house. According to Conservation Officer Avinash Thapa Magar, who is the information officer of Chitwan National Park, the park has rescued 199 animals in the four months from last Shrawan to Kartik. The largest number of them are Magar crocodiles.

Information Officer Thapa Magar said that 129 Magar crocodiles have been rescued in 4 months. After the Magar crocodile, the number of pythons is higher among the other animals rescued. The park team has rescued 52 pythons during this period. After that, 2 Rajagoman and 4 Goman, 9 snakes and 6 turtles have been rescued. There are one monkey, chittal and other animals each. Thus, the largest number of animals rescued by the park are reptiles.

Two types of crocodiles are found around Chitwan National Park. The Gharial crocodile is a very rare animal. It lives in the streams and rivers flowing through the park. The Gharial, which lives only in clean flowing water and eats fish, is relatively calm in nature. But the Magar crocodile also eats other large animals. Magar crocodiles not only enter rivers and lakes but also crawl into settlements and fields.

There have been cases of Magar crocodiles killing people during encounters in rivers. That is why locals are terrified when Magar crocodiles enter their homes. ‘In particular, Magar crocodiles have been eating fish and chickens in fish ponds and ponds,’ said Thapa Magar, the park’s information officer.