Photo: SCMP Pictures
Source:
https://scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2011152/hundreds-baby-crocodiles-found-boxed-and-unattended-chinas-border China
Hundreds of baby crocodiles found boxed up and unattended on China’s border with Vietnam
The authorities believe the animals may have been bought for breeding, but it is unclear why they were left at the spot
One of the crocodiles found in Guangxi. Photo: SCMP Pictures
More than 900 baby crocodiles have been found in boxes on China’s border with Vietnam, according to a news website report.
The animals were found in a border area of the Guangxi region in the early hours of Sunday, People.cn reported.
Border guards heard strange noises coming from a pier and found 940 Siamese crocodiles in two boxes, the report said.
The 25cm long crocodiles were about 15 days old and had probably been bought for breeding, the local forest department was quoted as saying.
No one in nearby villages has claimed the animals.
Siamese crocodiles are a protected species in China.
People are allowed to breed the animals, but it is illegal to buy or sell them without formal approval and documentation, the report said.
Li Guanbin, the chief guard, was quoted as saying that they had also found 70 baby crocodiles on the border in January and 399 in July.
The case has been reported to the local forest administration for further investigation.