Mystery as Crocodile Dumped in Derbyshire Canal Sparks Bizarre Police Appeal
Crocodile dumped in Derbyshire canal sparks police probe

In what must rank among their most unusual cases, Derbyshire Police have launched a bizarre investigation after a metre-long crocodile was discovered dumped in a local canal.

The reptile was found in the Smithy Canal, Shirebrook, prompting officers to take the extraordinary step of appealing for information through social media. The crocodile, measuring approximately one metre in length, was retrieved from the waterway in a condition that suggested it had been deliberately abandoned.

Strange Discovery in Waterway

Police were alerted to the peculiar situation after reports emerged of the exotic creature floating in the canal. The location, Smithy Canal in Shirebrook, is more accustomed to hosting native wildlife rather than tropical predators.

A police spokesperson confirmed the unusual nature of the incident, stating they were investigating how the animal came to be in the water and appealing to the public for assistance.

Social Media Appeal Goes Viral

The force's Facebook post quickly captured public attention, with many users expressing both shock and amusement at the unusual appeal. The post featured images of the retrieved crocodile, showing the creature's distinctive scaly skin and formidable teeth.

Local residents expressed their astonishment at the discovery, with one commenting: "You expect to see ducks and swans, maybe the occasional fish, but certainly not crocodiles. It's absolutely bizarre."

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities are now working to determine the crocodile's origins and how it came to be in the Derbyshire waterway. Questions remain about whether the animal was kept illegally as a pet or had been imported recently.

Animal welfare experts have been consulted to assess the creature's condition and determine appropriate care. The incident has raised concerns about the illegal trade in exotic animals and the dangers of releasing non-native species into British ecosystems.

Derbyshire Police continue to urge anyone with information about the crocodile's origins to come forward, as they attempt to solve one of their most unusual cases in recent memory.