Reptile & Amphibian Forums

{Wes Comment: Dear Croco-philes - I try to restrain myself from making comments on critters w-a-y outside my area of expertise ... but even if you do not speak Norwegian - and what are the chances of that, eh? - I encourage you to go to the Norwegian press URL and click on the Quicktime vidio link for their cut on this story ... just for the sheer joy of it ... you'' understand when you get there. YOu croc people have been holding out on me!
So my question for croc keepers is .. hair back or hair loose as per the photo?
Cheers, and with real affection ... for some anyway,
Wes}

THE INDEPEPENDENT (Johannesburg, S Africa) 12 April 05 'Lively' crocodile seized in Norway
(Sapa-Dpa) The former owner of a pet crocodile held in a flat in Oslo risks charges for illegal possession of an exotic animal, reports said on Tuesday.
The metre-long reptile was seized on Monday by police and a veterinarian from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, which also handles animal welfare issues, the online edition of the Aftenposten newspaper reported.
The seized reptile was believed to be a Nile crocodile, which can reach a length of 5m. They are considered an endangered species in many countries.
"It is a lively animal and has very sharp teeth," veterinarian Anne Christophersen said.
The crocodile would likely find a new home at a Norwegian zoo.
"We don't know if the crocodile was hatched in Norway or smuggled in here," police spokesperson Rolf Erik Rotegard said.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=qw1113308641740B256

AFTENPOSTEN (Oslo, Norway 12 April 05 Krokodille tatt i Oslo - Politiet fanget tirsdag en krokodille på mer enn en meter i Oslo (Annar Holm)
Photo: Nilkrokodillen kan bli fem meter lang. Dette er den største krokodillen Anne Christophersen hos Mattilsynet har fått inn. (Dag Grundseth)
Mattilsynet og politiet slo til på Ulven tirsdag, og sikret seg en krokodille på over en meter. Den skal ha vært aggressiv under "pågripelsen".
Foreløpige undersøkelser tyder på at dreier seg om en nilkrokodille. Eieren av leiligheten der krokodillen ble funnet, er siktet for ulovlig oppbevaring av eksotiske dyr. Det ble ikke funnet andre dyr på stedet.
- Det er absolutt et livlig eksemplar med svært skarpe tenner. Vi har tidligere fått inn noen små krokodiller, men aldri noen på denne størrelsen, sier veterinær Anne Christophersen hos Mattilsynet på Brynseng.
En nilkrokodille kan bli opptil fem meter lang, så den kan ikke avhendes hvor som helst. Ifølge politiet og byveterinær Reidar Skjelkvål er både Akvariet i Bergen og Dyreparken i Kristiansand mulige avtagere.
- Vi vet ikke om krokodillen er klekket ut i Norge eller smuglet hit. Eieren ble ikke pågrepet, sier politiførstebetjent Rolf Erik Rotegård ved Finans- og miljøavsnittet ved Oslo politidistrikt.
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/oslo/article1015510.ece
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/oslo/article1015510.ece

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Actually it looks more like a spectacled caiman to me, however, I am not expert in here, so I will leave the ultimate decision to the ones who are.

AFTENPOSTEN (Oslo, Norway) 14 April 05 Celebrity croc heading for Bergen
The meter-long crocodile found and confiscated in an Oslo apartment will be taking the night train Thursday, en route to its new home in Bergen.
The Caiman crocodile, which can grow to be 2.5-3 meters (8'2"-9'10" long, will get its own pool, worth NOK 100,000 (USD 15,700) from a sponsor.
The director of Bergen's Akvariet (Aquarium), Kees Oscar Ekeli, said that the crocodile is not a endangered species but is extremely rare as a visitor to Norway.
The new addition to the aquarium will have two Cuban crocs as neighbors, but since these are much larger, they will not socialize.
"I am afraid the two big crocodiles would quickly make mincemeat of the newcomer," Ekeli said.
The crocodile, which has been named Idar in honor of his main sponsor, is estimated to be two months old, and will now be quarantined so that his veterinary papers can be put in order.
Celebrity croc heading for Bergen