Technicians from the Ministry of the Environment are on the lookout for the American crocodile that is known to live in a creek in the area of Barrio Nuevo, in Sabana Perdida, over in East Santo Domingo. The authorities reported that traps were laid but the wily crocodile has so far avoided capture.
Nelson Garcia is one of the technicians heading the operation. He told the press over the weekend that this crocodile is a protected species and is mostly found in Enriquillo Lake, in the southwest. It is a species in danger of extinction.
It is not known how the crocodile relocated to Santo Domingo. But now residents told reporters they live in fear of being attacked by the crocodile, because it has been seen wandering the streets in the barrio. The crocodile is between three and 4m long and usually scurries back to its safe place in the dirty creek under a large concrete slab.
Many of the locals have encountered the crocodile, like Julia Martinez who said that one time the crocodile appeared right in front of her house. Sightings of the crocodile are more frequent in the morning or after heavy rains.
One morning late last week, a team from El Nacional newspaper visited the creek where the reptile lives and noticed that very early at least four children between the ages of eight and 12 were waiting for the crocodile to come out to watch it around 9am. Residents avoid the area at night, and all the families that live nearby close their doors early in the evening and place pieces of sheet metal in the alleyways so that the crocodile doesn’t enter yards or empty lots.
Some of the neighbors reported losing chickens they raise for their own consumption. They suspect the crocodile. Julio Perez, the president of a local boxing club said that he hoped that the authorities capture the animal soon so that his students will pay attention to their sport and not be so interested in observing and taking photos of the creature.
The existence of this neighborhood crocodile became known throughout the area because some residents loaded videos on social media, and now the area is a local tourist attraction.
Read more in Spanish:
https://elnacional.com.do/sigue-busqueda-de-cocodrillo-en-sde/
15 October 2018
