1.5-meter-long crocodile spotted in Saitama river

Thursday 10th July, 01:27 PM JST

SAITAMA —

A 1.5-meter-long crocodile was seen in a river in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, police said Wednesday. According to police, a 37-year-old man spotted the crocodile in the Shobu River around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday and reported it to police.

Police have searched the river but have so far failed to find the crocodile. Police said the crocodile might have been a pet abandoned by its owner once it grew too large.

Latest 15 of 24 Total Comments Show All

nandakandamanda at 04:51 PM JST - 10th July

"Police have searched the river..."

What? Like, they've swum underwater looking for it?
Xeno23 at 04:56 PM JST - 10th July

How can they be sure it was a crocodile? Did the police see it? Was a keitai shashin taken? Maybe it was an alligator...

Omawarisan Ichiro: Hey, is that it?

Omawarisan Jiro: No, can't be, that's an alligator.

Omawarisan Saburo: Well, guess no crocodiles around here then.
Zen_Builder at 05:00 PM JST - 10th July

Alligator/Crocodile = Wani in japanese.
WilliB at 05:04 PM JST - 10th July

I think this story is crock.
serindipity at 05:10 PM JST - 10th July

Gonna Have to get Brady Barr and his pretty assistant to catch this one. I'd be glad to give her a hand.
wilbur at 06:25 PM JST - 10th July

thats alot of wallets
romulus3 at 06:40 PM JST - 10th July

never trust a crocodile. never get one as a pet. never.
Beelzebub at 06:52 PM JST - 10th July

WilliB -- you're right, it's smells like those "kyogen" stories you hear about, where the guy is just bored and does something to get attention.

I'll believe it when I see it.
WMD at 07:45 PM JST - 10th July

Oh no don't tell me. They're going to make this croc a citizen??
sabinuki at 07:45 PM JST - 10th July

Exactly 1.5 meters? That's some good vision at 6.40pm.

I wonder if the crocodile became bigger with each Ozeki One Cup.
NICOLE77 at 09:20 PM JST - 10th July

ive see wallabies for sale in a pet shop here in Japan... so a crocodile doesnt surprise me.

Im glad i dont live anywhere near Saitama - the summer there will be hot without the old river swim to cool down...
maryhinge at 10:01 PM JST - 10th July

Saitama on the map again. I might even move there one day. It seems all the action is there. Imagine going to an African restaurant in Omiya and asking for a crocodile salad. Make it 'snappy'!
lipscombe at 12:13 AM JST - 11th July

there was a 5 meter great white shark found in a Kawasaki canal a few years ago, this croc was small taters
Hawkeye at 01:05 AM JST - 11th July

Tick tock Tick Tock, sounds like captain hook is in trouble again. It looks like someone's pet got too big and they released it which is stupid because it now poses a serious danger to the general public or maybe to itself as crocodile tail meat is really good grilled.
nandakandamanda at 01:28 AM JST - 11th July

Well, large crocodilian fossils have been found here, so there was a time when they lived here, and maybe that time is coming again. All someone has to do is introduce a mate, and we're off again.

Funnily enough, the Japanese word Wani (which we associate with crocodile/alligator) has been used by fishing communities around Japan down the centuries to mean water creatures with many sharp teeth, ie sharks. (Besides the familiar words Same and Fuka). Maybe they even had salt-water crocs here many moons ago!