Crocodile dumped outside pet training center in Chiba

Monday 04th May, 11:52 AM JST

CHIBA —

An employee of a pet training center in Asahi City, Chiba Prefecture, found a nylon bag with a crocodile inside placed near the entrance of the center on Sunday morning, police said.

Along with the abandoned 1.5-meter-long reptile, there was a note inside the bag which said: “I lost my job in March and can’t afford to support him any more. I was told by a pet shop that they can’t accept him without authorization. His name is ‘Gen.’ Please take care of him.”

The crocodile was accompanied by his international endangered species registration certificate, which indicates that he is a young Siamese crocodile. He had a towel taped around his snout, and whether out of pain—or out of lament for his unfortunate situation—no one knows for sure, he occasionally let out small crying sounds.

Asahi City police are looking for the pet’s owner, but because permission from the prefecture is required to keep wild animals, they are also investigating if any animal protection laws have been broken. The pet center does not deal in reptiles, and a local pet shop is currently taking charge of Gen.

News reports

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Latest 15 of 17 Total Comments Show All

Sarge at 12:23 PM JST - 4th May

"he occasionally let out small crying sounds"

Obviously he was upset at being abandoned by his owner. I'll bet he also shed small crocodile tears.
dr_jones at 12:26 PM JST - 4th May

Can I have it? (Imagining walking wish a crocodile on the leash through the streets that snaps away all those retarded Chihuahuas and Poodles sounds like a fun idea!)
Sarge at 12:35 PM JST - 4th May

dr jones - LOL!
jonnyboy at 01:10 PM JST - 4th May

and crocodiles thought they were immune from the effects of the global financial crisis. how wrong they were!
mrhog123 at 02:17 PM JST - 4th May

Wonder if he might make some good sushi or a wallet or both.
Ultradude at 02:29 PM JST - 4th May

See ya later, alligator...
Mark_McCracken at 02:31 PM JST - 4th May

The employee said, "We hope to have the crocodile catching Frisbees before the end of the week."
Mayuki at 02:57 PM JST - 4th May

While leaving a crocodile in a public place is possibly not the most civic-minded thing to do, even with its snout tied shut, it does seem that whoever abandoned Gen put some thought and effort into making sure the creature would be okay. Gen got more consideration than those little floating babies found over the past few days.
nandakandamanda at 03:07 PM JST - 4th May

Crying sounds? Siamese reptilian flu?
BurakuminDes at 05:26 PM JST - 4th May

Crikey! It's a shame the Late Steve Irwin wasn't around to capture and wrestle with this savage beast.
paolo27th at 06:34 PM JST - 4th May

Sorry dr_jones, we`ll have to jan-ken that one!
kanadamanada at 07:07 PM JST - 4th May

The CITES registration card would have the names and addresses of the exporter and importer. I import raptors, so I know what I'm talking about here. "Crying". PLEASE. Enough with anthropomorphisation. Gen would have eaten his owner, if he could.
elbudamexicano at 08:33 PM JST - 4th May

Down in Florida this is also a big problem (the everglades) hope no more fools continue dumping their "pets" out into the wild, poor croc!
Disillusioned at 09:20 PM JST - 4th May

At least the twit didn't dump it in the Tama river like all the other exotic species that have been dumped in it after the irresponsible owners have had enough of it. I hope they catch the owner and make him pay for his irresponsibility.
maryhinge at 07:17 AM JST - 5th May

A crocodile sandwich please, and make it snappy!