Youth booked for throwing firecrackers at crocodiles for reel in Rajasthan
The incident occurred in a stretch of the Chandralohi River, a tributary of the Chambal River
A youth was booked for allegedly throwing firecrackers at crocodiles in the Chandralohi river to create a social media reel, police said on Monday.
Following the circulation of the purported video on Sunday, the forest department immediately took notice and initiated an inquiry.
The incident occurred in a stretch of the Chandralohi River, a tributary of the Chambal River, known to be home to hundreds of crocodiles, sometime last week.
The video shows the youth lighting a firecracker and throwing it into a group of crocodiles basking on rocks in the river. The footage also indicates the presence of other wildlife in the vicinity, raising concerns about broader ecological harm.
Crocodile is a protected wildlife under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, which provides it the highest level of legal protection in India. Any act causing harm or disturbance to such species is considered a serious and punishable offence.
"On the report by forest officials, the police lodged a case under sections 39, 50, 51 and 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act against unidentified youth and began efforts to trace him," Circle Inspector Borekheda Anil Tailor said.
The incident has sparked concern among authorities and environmentalists alike, not only over the safety of protected wildlife but also over the growing trend of risky and irresponsible acts carried out for social media attention.
