Report of Dawn News regarding Mugger Crocodiles in Sulaiman Range
The Sulaiman Range runs across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is known for biodiversity and local legends. Reports of mugger crocodiles in remote lakes in Tuman Gorchani in Rajanpur keep coming up from people living there.
Two lakes in the Kaha River bed near Mat Khund are mentioned a lot. Angraizwali Dhand and Baghoonwali Dhand. Baghoon means crocodile in the local language and Gowindo is another word for them. Residents say the crocodiles come out in winter days and summer nights to feed on fish. One was even stoned to death after wandering out near Baghoonwali Dhand.
It seems like maybe ancient floods let the rivers connect and crocodiles moved up from the Indus. That is one idea from the folklore.
Crocodiles were common in the Indus basin before. Old evidence from Harappa and Mohenjo daro shows that with seals and things.
No survey has been done to confirm anything in these Sulaiman lakes though. Experts want proper field work to check the stories.
Populations have dropped a lot in Pakistan because of hunting and habitat loss and skin trade. Conservation is happening in Sindh at places like Deh Akro but the Sulaiman area is not studied much.
The mystery is still there really. Local accounts point to crocodiles being present but science has not caught up yet.
