14 July,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
An Indian marsh crocodile. Pics/Wildlife Welfare Association
Twenty-three crocodiles have been rescued from Mumbai and nearby areas this year alone, the highest annual count on record. The three-year total now stands at 29, with sightings near IIT Bombay, Powai, Bhandup, Mulund, and Aarey raising questions about whether the city has expanded into their centuries-old habitat.
Several rescue calls this year involved both adult and juvenile crocodiles from Mumbai's western suburbs, particularly around Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Powai Lake.
The Wildlife Welfare Association team, after a successful crocodile rescue operation
Rescue data compiled by NGOs RAWW, Wildlife Welfare Association (WWA), and SARRP shows 29 Indian marsh crocodile rescues between 2024 and 2026. Of these, 23 were recorded in 2026, making it the highest annual count.
Wildlife researcher Raj Jadhav of WCS India and WWA said adult crocodiles can naturally move between water bodies through connected waterways or overland during the monsoon. However, it is highly unlikely for juveniles or hatchlings to travel long distances across Mumbai's fragmented urban landscape.
Rescuers safely capture a crocodile to be released later
"While natural dispersal may explain some rescues, human intervention or other factors should also be considered when crocodiles are found in unexpected locations," he said.
Jadhav said Powai lake has changed significantly over the years. Early monsoon overflow, sedimentation, altered lake banks, and invasive water hyacinth may be reducing its effective water-holding capacity.
Since marsh crocodiles depend on their banks for nesting, basking, and shelter, protecting and ecologically restoring the lake is vital for the species' long-term conservation and biodiversity.
RAWW President Pawan Sharma said the rise in rescues could be linked to overflowing lakes, nesting near human settlements, fishing-related bycatch, poaching, and trafficking. He said a detailed scientific study is needed, as pre-conflict measures are essential for effective conservation.
2024: 5 rescues
Morarji Nagar - 1
Nirmal Lifestyle,
Mulund - 1
Tunga Gaon
(trafficking) - 1
Morarji Nagar pit - 1
Khamyacha Pada,
Aarey - 1
2025: 1 rescue
IIM Powai - 1
2026: 23 rescues
Banshil Pada - 1
IIM Powai - 1
Aarey Unit 32 - 1
Nirmal Lifestyle - 1
Kashimira - 1
IIT area, Powai - 1
Masale Lake, Murbad - 1
Bhandup Complex - 2
BMC Pipeline Road, Bhandup - 11
CSBT Station,
Khindipada - 1
NITIE Gate - 1
IIT Bombay campus - 1
