A routine walk through a Long Island wildlife center took an unexpected turn when staff discovered a crocodile wandering along an exercise trail, despite the facility being closed for the season. The small reptile initially mistaken for an alligator was eventually identified as a Morelet’s crocodile, a species native to parts of Central America, states a PEOPLE report. The discovery has since prompted an investigation into how the animal ended up at the Holtsville Wildlife & Ecology Center, along with a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever abandoned it.
Crocodile discovered on closed trail
According to an online report by PEOPLE, town employees found the reptile on Thursday, Sept. 17, while caring for the grounds at the Holtsville Wildlife & Ecology Center in Holtsville, New York. The center was closed to visitors for the season, but its walking and exercise paths remained under the care of local staff. After spotting the animal, workers contacted Strong Island Animal Rescue League (SIARL), a nonprofit that responds to calls involving injured, abused and neglected animals. Officers with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) were also notified about the unusual find. The reptile was initially described as an alligator, but DEC officers later identified it as a Morelet’s crocodile. Staff members were able to keep track of the animal and contain it before rescuers arrived. By the time SIARL President Frank Floridia reached the location, the crocodile had already been secured in a cardboard box.
A species far from its native range
The report adds that Morelet’s crocodiles are native to Belize, northern Guatemala and parts of Mexico, making the animal an unmistakable outsider on Long Island. The discovery also raised concerns about the welfare of a species being kept far outside its natural habitat. The crocodile was small enough to be handled by rescuers, but its size did not make it harmless. Crocodiles can inflict serious injuries, and an animal left loose on a public trail could have posed a danger to visitors, staff or itself. SIARL later searched the surrounding area for evidence that the crocodile had escaped from a tank or enclosure. No tank or other reptile was found, adding to concerns that the animal had been deliberately abandoned.
Investigation follows the discovery
DEC officers took custody of the crocodile after it was contained. As of Sept. 21, the reptile was being held by the Nassau County SPCA while arrangements were being made for its transfer to a properly permitted facility The DEC is investigating how the crocodile came to be at the wildlife center. The Suffolk County SPCA is also looking into the circumstances surrounding the abandonment. SIARL has offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for leaving the crocodile at the site, adds the report.
Keeping exotic reptiles comes with legal restrictions
The incident has also highlighted New York’s restrictions on exotic reptiles. The DEC states that importing, possessing or selling alligators, caimans and crocodiles, including their parts and products, is unlawful without the appropriate permits. For now, the Morelet’s crocodile remains in protective custody as investigators work to determine where it came from and who left it on the trail. What began as an unusual wildlife sighting has become a case involving animal welfare, public safety and the illegal release of a non-native species.Images Courtesy: istock and People