During a press conference held at Boatswain’s Beach, members of the media got the chance to see the crocodile rescued in Cayman waters last Saturday and learn how efforts to take care of it were progressing.

While the reptile rested peacefully in its enclosure, Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Director of the Department of the Environment (DoE) went over the process underway to determine its origin.

She said that blood samples had been taken and permits were now being obtained under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, to send these samples to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and Texas State University.

These two centres are understood to be the only ones in the world with the resources to determine the origin of the crocodile.

When the results are obtained, the priority will be to return the creature to its native habitat. She stressed that there are no plans to keep the crocodile on the Cayman Islands.

Answering questions about the rescue efforts, Ms Ebanks-Petrie said that discussions were now taking place to ensure that any similar incidents in the future will involve relevant agencies.

When the crocodile was captured on 30 December 2006, the police took full control of the incident on the grounds that public safety was at risk.

Brian Critchlow from the Department of Agriculture said that they were responsible for veterinary care while the crocodile was at Boatswain’s Beach. He said that the health and welfare of the reptile was of paramount importance. “The priority is to minimise stress to the animal and ensure conditions are the best we can make them,” he explained, adding that they are seeking advice from experts and will make modifications to the current accommodation as necessary. Mr Critchlow also thanked Boatswain’s Beach for providing the facilities needed to house the crocodile.

Returning to the actions that led up to the capture of the crocodile, Gina Ebanks-Petrie pointed out that the reptile had absolutely no legal protection on the Cayman Islands. Although she confirmed that it was a threatened species and trade in crocodile products, including the blood samples required to determine its origin, was strictly controlled, the current Animals Law, dating back to 1976, failed to protect the creature. She expressed hope that the proposed new legislation would correct this.

At its enclosure the crocodile dozed, oblivious to all the fuss it was causing. Mr Critchlow said that it had eaten, although the species are understood to take food fairly infrequently, and was being given regular doses of antibiotics.

The crocodile will not be on display to the public and all efforts are being made to minimise its exposure to human beings so that its re-introduction into the wild will not be compromised.

Cayman Net News has received numerous reports that at least one other crocodile has been sighted off North Side. At the time of going to press no evidence has been produced to indicate that more than one of the species is on Grand Cayman.