A gentle, ‘vegetarian’ crocodile left a temple premises, after a request from priest

(Image courtesy – Times Now)

Kasargod (Kerala) –  A big crocodile was found inside the premises of Sri Ananthapura Temple in Kasargod recently. This reptile (named Babiya) is a vegetarian. It has been living in the temple’s pond for 70 years. According to the priest, this was Babiya’s first entry in the temple and it left the premises after a ‘request’.

It came to the temple premises on 20th October evening and spent some time there and went back after the chief priest Chandraprakash Nambisan asked it go to its permanent habitat.

Currently, no one in the temple knows when and how Babiya came to the temple pond and who named it. It has shown no wild behaviour. It does not need high maintenance and feeds on temple prasad which is offered after the worship of the Deity. At times the priest puts rice balls right into its mouth. He has a unique friendship with Babiya. The temple pond has enough fish and it is believed that Babiya never attacks or consumes them. It is a fully vegetarian crocodile keeping with the tradition of the ancient temple.