70-Year Vegetarian Crocodile in an Indian Temple: The World's Most Enlightened Reptile
In Kerala’s Sri Anantapura temple, a crocodile named Babia has reportedly not eaten meat for seventy years. Local priests call him the most enlightened crocodile in the world. Babia often ventures onto temple grounds because his pond sits nearby, but he clearly prefers living in the pond, where worshippers bring him food. The priests say his presence has drawn more pilgrims, making the temple famous and shifting the community's worldview around this unlikely resident.
In This Article:
How Babia Became a Temple Fixture
No one can recall exactly when Babia first arrived at the temple in Kerala; the moment has receded into legend. Today, the crocodile is treated as part of the temple, an ordinary fixture rather than a stray animal. Legend says that in 1945 a crocodile appeared in the temple pond a few days after a British officer was mysteriously killed by an unknown animal. Soldiers shot the officer, and Babia is said to be his reincarnation—a story that adds a note of anti-British sentiment to the tale.
A Sacred Creature That Never Bites
Priests insist Babia has never attacked them and is regarded as sacred. Even though he lives in a swamp, he reportedly does not prey on the fish that share the pond with him—an extraordinary claim for a crocodile described as fully vegetarian.
The Daily Diet: One Kilogram of Rice
Babia is fed only vegetarian meals—mostly boiled rice. According to witnesses, he has lived on this diet for seven decades. The idea of a herbivore crocodile is as remarkable as it is implausible. Some commentators wonder if the crocodile is simply too slow to hunt on a rice-based diet, or if night-time raids are happening unseen.
Miracle, Myth, or Microcosm of Belief?
With origins that blur into legend, Babia has become a symbol of faith, curiosity, and the mysteries of wildlife. What do you think? Is this a genuine miracle, a cultural myth, or a fascinating anomaly of nature? Share your thoughts in the comments.
