Rescuers snap into action after crocodile found in Hong Kong building
Member of the public spotted one-metre-long reptile at a residential block in Sham Shui Po and called police
An injured juvenile crocodile has been found in a Hong Kong residential building, prompting a rescue operation by an animal concern group.
At about 1pm on Wednesday, police alerted the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) that a member of the public had reported spotting the reptile at a residential block on Tai Po Road in Sham Shui Po.
It was later confirmed to be a juvenile hybrid of a Siamese crocodile and a saltwater crocodile.
The SPCA said personnel equipped with rescue gear rushed to the scene, where they discovered the about one-metre-long crocodile hiding beneath some clutter on a platform connected to a flat.
The team captured the animal using a snare pole and long net. It was suspected to have a leg injury.
A 66‑year‑old man told police he heard a noise from a balcony at about 9pm on Tuesday but did not pay attention. At around 11am on Wednesday, he discovered a green reptile there, a police source said.