After having kept its distance for several years, a crocodilian-type reptile now regularly manifests its presence around the Place d’Armes district in Lamentin.
Since August, numerous testimonies supported by photos and videos have reported the presence of one or more “crocodiles in the Lamentin canal, one of the arms of the Lézarde river in the plain.
This week, traffic jams were observed in the area where the reptile was spotted. If no incident is currently to be deplored, the fact remains that this observation can prove to be dangerous.
Jean-Claude Nicolas, head of the Police Department for Nature at the Martinique Regional Natural Park, warns curious people who get too close to the place of life of the reptile (s).
It is an animal that has a certain size, which is carnivorous. He is not necessarily in his community even if he has lived there for a long time. It can be very dangerous if only by reaction. In principle, it mainly eats fish, but crocodilians also eat meat. I call on people not to come near. It’s very risky
These wild animals have advantages that put them in a position of strength in their wetland.
Crocodilians are very powerful animals. Their paws alone can cause injury. Once they grab their prey with their very powerful jaws, they spin around in the water until they drown. It’s not necessarily to eat but also to defend yourself. They are also very lively and once they attack, it is difficult to help the victim.
To go more straightforward, listen to this interview given by Jean-Claude Nicolas to Pascale Lavenaire:
According to our information, the prefecture has requested an expertise on the situation. For the time being, the file is being considered but no capture operation is planned. In 2015, the capture attempts had all failed.
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