Huge Crocodile Kills 17-Year-Old Girl Grazing Goats; Victim's Mutilated Body Found 2 Days Later

A huge crocodile attacked and killed a 17-year-old girl, while she was grazing goats at a riverside village in India.

Authorities said Saturday the incident took place near Bhitarkanika National Park in the eastern state of Odisha on Friday.

The teenager – identified as Sheela Dalei – was with her elder sister Sumitra near a creek when the incident took place. One of the goats had entered the creek, following which Sheela went to bring the animal back. Suddenly, a saltwater crocodile pounced at the girl, and dragged her into the water.

"We were grazing our goats when suddenly one of the flock entered the creek. As soon as Sila went near it to bring the goat back, a crocodile appeared from nowhere and dragged my sister into the water," Sumitra said recalling the harrowing incident, according to New Indian Express.

Range officer of the national park Manas Dash said the forest personnel started looking for the victim immediately after they were notified about the incident. After a search for two days, the mutilated body of the victim was found, Times Now reported, citing the Press Trust of India.

"We always warn the riverside villagers not to venture into the rivers and creeks around Bhitarkanika as they are home to around 1,784 crocodiles. The State Forest and Wildlife department has also barricaded 75 river ghats around the park and its nearby areas," Dash reportedly said.

He also said the forest department will provide compensation of nearly $4,800 to the victim's family.

The latest incident is the fifth fatal crocodile attack in the region in the last four months. Villages along the Bhitarkanika National Park have witnessed several incidents of human-crocodile conflict. At least seven others were injured in crocodile attacks in the last four months.

Authorities said most of the attacks occur when people enter the habitat of crocodiles for illegal fishing, poaching, cattle grazing, fuel wood collection, and honey collection. The incidents become more frequent during the monsoon and winter months.

In July, a huge crocodile swallowed a 10-year-old child, while the boy was taking a bath in a river in India. The incident took place in the Chambal river, which flows through the state of Madhya Pradesh. The boy went deep into the river while taking a bath when the 8-foot-long crocodile emerged out of the water and dragged the child away. Later, locals used sticks, ropes and nets to capture the crocodile.