Drowning in the disastrous effects of deep-rooted corruption, Lebanon is no stranger to bloodthirsty reptiles. However, this time, Lebanon has been housing a real one. You may want to check your neighbors’ balconies after reading this.
On Tuesday, the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (LebISF) made a statement about a Lebanese man who was keeping a crocodile on his home balcony in Ain el-Remmaneh, Beirut.
According to the statement, an environmental association has filed a complaint about the crocodile falling from the balcony onto the road several times, putting pedestrians at risk.
By raising the crocodile, the man was violating the Animal Protection and Welfare Act and the CITES Agreement (which protects endangered plants and animals), and disregarding recommendations put in place by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
The authorities seized the crocodile from its Lebanese owner. It was classified as the Nile crocodile, native to sub-Saharan Africa. This freshwater crocodile is considered as one of the most dangerous species of crocodile.
According to the LebISF press release, the reptile is considered the second-largest remaining species (after the saltwater crocodile). It can grow up to 5.5 meters and weigh over 250 kilograms and live for as long as 50 years.
In 2013, a similar incident took place when a 1.5-meter crocodile was found in the Beirut River and taken to the British reserve.
As for this fellow creator, a specialized organization is taking care of it until the British reserve can receive it.
