Ministry of Environment and National Police recovered a 1-1/2 meter long crocodile that had been meandering in a gully in Barrio Nuevo, Sabana Perdida, in north eastern Santo Domingo province and that had been captured on Saturday, 20 October 2018. The baby crocodile was sent to the National Zoo to receive care. The zoo authorities will decide to either keep the baby crocodile in the crocodile area of the zoo or return it to its natural habitat in Enriquillo Lake in southwestern Barahona.
Area resident, Aneudy Rivas had captured the crocodile in the early morning and requested a reward to deliver the reptile to the authorities. Rivas, who works in Juan Dolio, San Pedro de Macoris, went to work that day but kept in contact by phone with the authorities. Eventually, he agreed to voluntarily hand over the crocodile upon his return from San Pedro. The reptile was taken to the National Zoo for assessment.
In an early appraisal, zoo veterinarians told the press that the two to three year old baby crocodile measures 140 centimeters and weighs 12.1 lbs, that is below the normal weight of a crocodile of that size. The vets say it showed signs of weakness and intense stress. The vets say the crocodile will be kept under observation.
Supposedly, in the same area there is at least another crocodile. The Ministry of Environment has alerted the population to stay away to avoid injuries. Residents in Barrio Nuevo are on the lookout for a larger crocodile.
It is not known how the crocodiles came to live in the northern city area. The natural habitat of crocodiles is in Enriquillo Lake, in southwestern Barahona.
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El Nacional
22 October 2018
