A ‘pet’ crocodile has tugged at heart strings after it was recaptured at a popular tourist spot, with some terrified about how close the mammoth reptile was found to the community.
The saltwater crocodile was snapped by Australian woman Deb Schnippins who posted photos while she was on Legian Beach in Bali on Wednesday.
Images of the reptile showed its legs and snout firmly tied up, with a makeshift blindfold on its head as locals stood around the animal.
Ms Schnippins claimed a lifesaver had dragged it out of the sea by its tail.
She said the creature looked in a bad way as it lay on the sand on wooden sticks it had been carried on from the shore.
‘Crocodile currently on Legian beach. Is very skinny, spine is very visible and just breathing,’ Ms Schnippins said.
‘A local told me it’s a pet that’s escaped its cage. Police don’t want to answer any questions about what’s going to happen to it, will likely go to the zoo.’
Social media users took to her Facebook post bewildered of its presence close to the community but other travellers were more worried about the ‘distressed’ crocodile.
‘How awful for this poor animal, I can imagine how distressed it would be,’ one traveller said.
‘Unfortunately I think this poor creature will be put to sleep if its condition is as bad as it looks,’ another said.
‘I really hope they get it vet care before making a decision or get advice from someone with knowledge of these creatures of what’s best for this animal’s future.’
But some argued the claim the animal would be taken to a zoo was false, which would have been said just to ‘appease the masses’.
‘Never believe what you are told! Once the traffic was really busy years ago, we were told an elephant had fallen off the back of truck. This is sad and real,’ one more wrote.
Yet others were more alarmed over the creature being near the popular spot on the party island known for its golden sand and dazzling blue water.
‘Lucky we didn’t go swimming,’ one tourist said, while another added, ‘OK so we now have crocodiles to watch out for’.
‘You have always needed to,’ another replied. ‘Salt water crocs travel, they have recorded crocs going from the bays in Darwin up in to [Indonesia].’
‘I’ll keep the swimming to the pools haha,’ another one said.
Meanwhile, another asked why Ms Schnippins was ‘confused as to why police have to answer questions’, after her comment on the police withholding information.
‘They were managing the situation,’ she responded.
‘They don’t need to inform you on the situation if they have it under control,’ he replied back.
‘Everyone gets informed in Bali,’ another laughed.
Meanwhile, footage of the same crocodile being carried with the wooden sticks from the shore by a crowd of locals and lifesavers was also posted to social media.
The sight of the creature found in the tourist hub did not surprise other seasoned travellers.
‘Saw one slide into a creek/drain about 10 years ago on the way to Denpasar. No one believed us, but I know what I saw,’ she said.
‘How do people even have crocodiles as pets,’ another asked.
This article by Jade Hobman was first published by The Daily Mail on 5 January 2023. Lead Image: Deb Schnippins posted photos of the crocodile (pictured) as it lay on the sand on wooden sticks it had been carried on from the shore.
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