Authorities have confirmed that an alligator captured in a river in Yeoju, South Korea, is a Siamese crocodile, a species protected under international endangered species regulations. There is growing interest in how this rare species, which is subject to strict restrictions on private ownership and trade, ended up in the country and was abandoned in a river. Police are currently analyzing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the area surrounding the river.
According to officials from Yeoju City and the National Institute of Biological Resources, the 80 cm (about 31.5 in) crocodile captured from the Soyang Stream in Changdong, Yeoju on July 18 at 11:27 a.m. (Korean time) was identified as a Siamese crocodile. The city had sent photos and video footage of the captured crocodile to the National Institute of Biological Resources for analysis.
Typically, these crocodiles grow to about 3 meters (about 9.8 ft) in length, but males can reach sizes of up to 4 meters (about 13.1 ft).
The Siamese crocodile is listed as a critically endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and is protected under international trade agreements.
Breeding, transfer, and trade of this species must comply with relevant laws, making it difficult for the average person to keep or dispose of one.
Authorities from the fire department and animal protection center suspect that someone may have acquired the crocodile as a pet but abandoned it when they found it difficult to care for. There are also concerns it may have been discarded during an illegal trade process.
The crocodile is currently being temporarily sheltered at the Yeoju Animal Protection Center. The city has posted a notice on the center’s website for ten days to find the owner. So far, no owner has come forward.
If no one claims the crocodile, the city plans to send it to the National Institute of Ecology.
The police are also actively searching for the owner. The Yeoju Police Department is reviewing CCTV footage from the area where the Siamese crocodile was found to locate the person who abandoned it. They are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crocodile’s entry into the country, including the possibility of smuggling.
A police spokesperson stated that they’re investigating how this animal, which requires permits for import and care, entered the country. It has yet to identify the owner.