What is an eight-foot long crocodile (Crocodylus sp.) – a Mexican example is seen above – doing in the Cayman Islands? They have been extinct there for an undetermined number of years. It obviously is not someone’s escaped pet.

“Mystery crocodile described as ‘very fast and aggressive’”

Cayman News
Thursday, January 4, 2007

The origin of an eight-foot long crocodile captured near Old Man Bay in Grand Cayman last Saturday remains a mystery.

Sightings of the reptile in the north of the Island prompted 911 calls from members of the public.

Police officers and officials from the Department of the Environment safely contained it for transfer to Boatswain’s Beach where it is currently under veterinary supervision.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) said that rumours about an incident involving a second crocodile were unfounded.

They said a further search was conducted on Sunday after reports that a second creature had been seen, but it was believed these were actually sightings of the captured crocodile at different locations.

Kenneth Hydes, Managing Director of the Boatswain’s Beach tourist attraction, confirmed that they were looking after the crocodile, saying it was a multi-agency effort to care for it.

The main investigation is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture.

Spokesperson for the department, Brian Critchlow, said it was too early to comment on where the crocodile came from.

“It is under veterinary care at Boatswain’s Beach and all reports suggest that it is doing well,” he said.

“A full investigation is underway to try and determine the origin of the crocodile but it is too early to speculate on how it arrived here.”

He confirmed it was a saltwater crocodile, saying that the creature was very fast and aggressive.

Although the Cayman Islands once had a thriving crocodile population, Cayman being derived from caiman or Caymanas, they were believed to have been hunted to extinction over 200 years ago.

The nearest obvious source of crocodiles is Cuba where the surviving indigenous population is supplemented by a farming programme which produces meat and skins.