Cancun, Quintana Roo — Authorities rescued a roughly two-meter American crocodile on Monday after it was found tied up in the city’s Hotel Zone, officials said.
The reptile was spotted near Isla Dorada, at kilometer 12.5 of the hotel strip, and residents alerted authorities. Responding officers found the crocodile immobilized with its mouth and limbs bound.
Personnel from the city’s Ecology Department, the fire department and the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) carried out the rescue using specialized wildlife protocols.
Once the bindings were removed, the crocodile was taken to a PROFEPA-authorized facility for veterinary evaluation. Officials said the animal’s health will be assessed to determine next steps for its recovery and eventual release.
Authorities urged residents and tourists not to approach or attempt to capture wild animals in urban or tourist areas, saying such actions pose risks to both people and wildlife. They asked anyone who spots wildlife to report it immediately to emergency services or environmental agencies so trained personnel can handle the situation.
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