ECO Franz with juvenile crocodile and dwarf caiman removed from a residence in Westchester County
From the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation:
Reptile Removal – Westchester County
On December 10, ECO Franz received a report regarding an individual in possession of reptiles in the City of Yonkers without a license or permit. The animals, a juvenile crocodile and dwarf caiman, were discovered by City of Yonkers Police Officers while conducting an arrest for unrelated charges. The reptiles were placed in a properly licensed facility and ECOs issued multiple tickets to the individual for illegally possessing reptiles without the required permits.
From Crocodile-lover- Mark Perpetua’s Reptile Encounters
Well it happened again! Two illegal crocodilians were seized in Yonkers, NY. The one on the left is a Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii). A species native to Mexico, Belize and parts of Guatemala. They can grow to about 9 feet long. The smaller one along the bottom of the photo is a smooth-front caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus). This species of caiman is one of two that are referred to as dwarf caiman. This little one will grow to about 5 feet long. They are native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America. All 27 species of crocodilians require a special license to keep in NY. I will be picking these two up next Tuesday after I return from CrocFest.
