Rescuers snap into action after crocodile found in Hong Kong building

An injured juvenile crocodile has been found in a Hong Kong residential building, prompting a rescue operation by an animal concern group.

At about 1pm on Wednesday, police alerted the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) that a member of the public had reported spotting the reptile at a residential block on Tai Po Road in Sham Shui Po.

It was later confirmed to be a juvenile hybrid of a Siamese crocodile and a saltwater crocodile.

The SPCA said personnel equipped with rescue gear rushed to the scene, where they discovered the about one-metre-long crocodile hiding beneath some clutter on a platform connected to a flat.

The team captured the animal using a snare pole and long net. It was suspected to have a leg injury.

A 66‑year‑old man told police he heard a noise from a balcony at about 9pm on Tuesday but did not pay attention. At around 11am on Wednesday, he discovered a green reptile there, a police source said.

The animal was taken to the SPCA’s Tsing Yi centre for care. A preliminary examination and X-ray assessment were conducted.

The SPCA warned that crocodiles were dangerous wild animals and private ownership was not only hazardous but could also be illegal. Even juvenile specimens could pose serious risks to people and other animals as they grew, it added.

It urged the public not to keep crocodiles or other dangerous wildlife as pets. The SPCA said the reptile was later handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

A police spokesman said the owner had not yet been located.