Fisherman discovers dead caiman in canal near Lille
Investigation opened into suspected animal cruelty following find
The inset image depicts the caiman in question, which measured approximately one metre in length and weighed around 10 kilograms
Photo credit: Min Ngoan/ Shutterstock, embedded photo Berlkacem/TikTok
A fisherman has spoken of his shock after retrieving a dead caiman from a canal near Lille, prompting prosecutors to begin an investigation into how the animal ended up there.
The fisherman was magnet fishing on Sunday afternoon (April 19) in the canal in Roubaix on the outskirts of Lille when his magnet caught on something heavy.
“It took me at least ten minutes to get it out, and I saw scales. I got scared. I said to my colleague, ‘It’s a crocodile.’ He said, ‘No, stop.’ I said, ‘Look.’ I opened the line a little wider, shocked,” the 28-year-old fisherman told France Info.
The reptile had been placed inside a sleeping bag, secured with cable ties, and weighed down with a heavy object before being thrown into the water. The body was already decomposing and reportedly gave off a strong and unpleasant smell.
The animal measured approximately one metre in length and weighed around 10 kilograms, leading the League for the Protection of Animals to believe it was either young or had a growth problem due to poor living conditions. It was a spectacled caiman, a species that can grow to 2.5 metres.
According to the League for the Protection of Animals, caimans need substantial infrastructure to thrive, including a large enough pool to move around, land area, and a specific light source that replicates the climate conditions of their native habitat in Central and South America.
An investigation has been opened by the Lille Public Prosecutor's Office into suspected animal cruelty, with the League for the Protection of Animals believing the caiman was most probably kept illegally, as someone who keeps a caiman as a pet would normally dispose of it at their veterinarian’s practice if it died.
These types of animals are very often purchased by enthusiasts after being bred abroad, usually in Eastern Europe, and then transported through the Netherlands or Belgium before entering France. However, in France, to legally own one, a person must have a certificate of competence as well as prefectural authorisation, and these are rarely issued to private individuals.
On top of that, people often do not realise how dangerous these animals can be, nor the amount of space and level of commitment they require.
Finally, keeping exotic pets illegally can lead to serious legal consequences. In France, trafficking in wild animals is punishable by three years’ imprisonment and a fine of €150,000.
