More than 120 crocodiles died from apparently suffocating
and crushing each other while being transported across
Mexico in a truck, authorities said.
The wildlife company Cocodrilos Exoticos, based in the
Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo, could face a fine of
up to $193,000, the environmental prosecutor’s office said.
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The 124 reptiles were among 350 Morelet’s crocodiles from
another farm, Cocodrilos Mexicanos, located in the
northwestern Pacific coast state of Sinaloa, the office said in
a statement.
But inspectors discovered that 124 of the 350 specimens were
dead when they arrived at the “Cocodrilia” wildlife
conservation facility in the Caribbean coast town of
Chetumal. There are 2,550 kilometers (1,580 miles) between
the two cities.
The crocodiles “presumably died from suffocation and being
crushed during the trip,” the statement said.
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Pictures released by the prosecutor’s office showed the
large truck and a handful of dead crocodiles on the ground,
including one with its neck twisted.
The company is accused of failing to guarantee “dignified
treatment” for the animals under wildlife protection laws.
The Cocodrilia conservation site acquired nearly 5,000
crocodiles from the Sinaloa company.
AFP.
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