Last night we introduced you to Edwin X and showed you the 4-foot crocodile he wrestled out of a drain on Raccoon Street Extension. Edwin told us he didn’t know what to do with the crocodile and had it on the menu for dinner tonight. But after seeing last night’s news – conservation officers at the Forestry Department stepped in. This morning Forestry Officers went to pick up the crocodile and 7NEWS was there.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This morning officers from the Forestry Department taped the crocodile’s mouth shut, tied its feet, and placed a cloth over its eyes. It was then lifted and placed into the pan of the Forestry Department’s pickup for a journey back into wild.
Lisandro Quiroz, Forestry Officer
“We found out from the news last night that animal had been taken into custody by someone in the public and it is customary for us to come and
take custody of such specimen and assess and return to the wild if it is advisable or take other measures. This one certainly will be taken into the wild.”
And Forestry Officer Lisandro Quiroz says that is a good thing because the crocodile posed a threat. He estimates the crocodile to be a young adult and weighing about 40 pounds.
Lisandro Quiroz,
“It might have posed a threat to small children and small animals and it was wise that Mr. X took it up from where it was.”
Keith Swift,
Is it rare for this crocodile to have been in that area which is heavily populated?
Lisandro Quiroz,
“Well its not rare but probably it was looking for food and it just found itself into the right area. Unfortunately for him he didn’t do any damage.”
And what Edwin X did was wise, Quiroz says it may also illegal because crocodile are a protected species.
Lisandro Quiroz,
“It is unlawful to take any specimen of wild animals. In this case it was done and thanks to the news we found out. What the public and anybody should do that comes across wild animals that may be a threat or a nuisance to their safety is to call the Forestry Department in Belmopan and we will deal with it.”
And that’s fine by the man who wrestled with the crocodile – Edwin X –who says the crocodile would have been on the menu for dinner tonight.
Edwin X, Captured Crocodile
“I am happy that they came for the crocodile and the best thing for they to do is take it somewhere else where it can live well and out of the reach of the city and I guess as I said, it is the best thing for the crocodile. I am happy about that.”
Keith Swift,
You said you were going to eat it or sell it? What happened to those plans?
Edwin X,
“Well if these guys didn’t come for it today, definitely by this evening it would have dinner. I didn’t have enough time to say eat the crocodile as yet. I had other things to do so I saved the crocodile.”
The Forestry Department confirms that it was a male fresh water crocodile. Forestry officer Lisandro Quiroz reiterated to us this evening that the fresh water morelet crocodile is a protected species.
