Earlier this year, a female Siamese crocodile was found in the New Territories and sent to Ocean Park. Hong Kong is not home to crocodiles, so it was surprising to find one in the city. The police believed someone brought it here illegally to keep as a pet.
Siamese crocodiles are found in Southeast Asia, and live in lakes, rivers and swamps. The species is critically endangered.
Some think crocodiles are cool and rare, so they keep them as pets. But this is not safe since the reptile’s bite can be dangerous (see graphic). Though the Siamese crocodile’s bite is less powerful than that of the Nile crocodile, it can still tear off a person’s leg.
Crocodiles are also predators and do not like being locked up. If they are kept in a cage, they get angry and might hurt people.
If you ever run into a crocodile, Victor Wong of the Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation advises to “leave them alone and avoid provoking them with sound”.
