A caiman calf has been captured in the Besòs river, near the Potosí bridge, in Santa Coloma de Gramenet. The police “detained” the animal after a neighbor alerted the Guardia Urbana of Barcelona, which activated a joint operation to capture it.
The specimen has been identified as a young female caiman yacare caiman (Caiman crocodilus) measuring approximately 70 centimeters and between two and three years of age. He was transferred in good condition to a specialized center for care.
The Minister of the Interior has assured that the Mossos d’Esquadra are investigating how the reptile reached the river, as it is not a native species of the region . Most likely the abandonment of an owner who had him as a pet.
It is relatively common for the owners of certain reptiles to adopt them as pets when they are hatchlings and abandon them once they start to grow, so this type of situation raises concerns about the abandonment of exotic animals and their impact on the local ecosystem.