Kendrapada: Forest officials have recently deployed two thermal drone cameras and a 10-member quick response team (QRT) to monitor and capture saltwater crocodiles in riverside villages of Jajpur district following attacks on humans.The team, drawn from Bhitarkanika National Park in neighbouring Kendrapada district, has been deployed in Jajpur areas under Cuttack forest division. It is equipped with crocodile-proof nets, searchlights, boats and other equipment to catch crocodiles entering human settlements.“We have provided them with two drone cameras to detect the presence of crocodiles,” said assistant conservator of forests, Cuttack forest division, Manas Kumar Das.Thermal cameras detect crocodiles’ live movement and display their locations on computer screens, helping forest personnel track animals that stray into rivers, creeks and other water bodies more accurately, Das said.The deployment followed the death of Barei village farmer Gajendra Majhi (68), who was killed by a crocodile last month while collecting water from Kharasrota to irrigate his riverside vegetable field. Udaya Sahoo (40) narrowly escaped an attack in Kharasrota near Routrapur village on Nov 7.Recent floods caused major rivers to swell, allowing crocodiles to move beyond Bhitarkanika’s boundaries and enter rivers in distant parts of Jajpur district. Bhitarkanika, one of India’s largest mangrove ecosystems, had around 1,858 saltwater crocodiles according to this year’s reptile census.Forest officials are also conducting awareness campaigns through loudspeakers and leaflets in vulnerable villages. Residents have been advised to avoid entering rivers and use only designated barricaded bathing areas.Crocodile attacks have killed nine people in and around Bhitarkanika in the past 20 months, 18 in the last three years and 34 over the past 54 months. The conflict has angered riverside villagers who depend on river water for daily needs and livelihoods, with residents saying the threat has made access difficult.