Babiya, claimed to be a vegetarian crocodile, was found dead on Sunday night. The 75-year-old reptile was missing since Saturday, the carcass was then discovered floating on the lake around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to temple officials, who reported to the police and the animal husbandry department.

On Monday, the body of the male crocodile, known locally as Babiya, was placed on the grounds of the Sree Ananthapadmanabha Swamy Temple in Kumbla, where hundreds of devotees paid their respects. Babiya will be buried in the temple ground in order to honor the crocodile. 

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The reptile was never known to become violent or to attack devotees. The crocodile arrived at the temple’s main temple steps two years ago. The Sri Anantapura Lake temple is thought to be the original seat or moolasthanam of Padmanabha (Vishnu), the deity at Thiruvananthapuram’s famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple.

People from all around the world used to come to see the reptile as he was the temple’s main attraction. Babiya was claimed to be a vegetarian by the temple officials as he only consumed balls of rice and jaggery at the temple, he was offered the prasadam twice a day after the pujas at the temple.

Babiya had access to all areas of the temple and would spend time in the lake surrounding the temple or simply enjoying on the temple stairs. Babiya spent the hot months at Vana Shastara, a laterite pond for cattle 60 meters away in the temple compound.

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The Hindu reported that Babiya is thought to have appeared in the temple pond within days of a British soldier shooting a crocodile there in 1945.

After learning of the 75-year-old crocodile’s passing, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje , State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shobha Karandlaje tweeted ,”Divine Crocodile Babiya which was guarding Sri Anantapura Lake Temple in #Kasaragod of Kerala is no more.

Vegetarian #Babiya lived here in the Temple lake for the last 70+ years eating the Prasadam of Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy.

May God bless this soul. Om Shanti.”