A live crocodile has been discovered inside a flat in Sevilla.
The bizarre discovery was made by the Policia Nacional, who were carrying out a raid on the home in the Los Pajaritos neighbourhood on Monday.
While searching for evidence as part of a criminal investigation, officers also came across a crocodile measuring around half a metre in length.
The reptile was being kept inside the flat despite requiring specialist care, secure housing and environmental conditions that make it unsuitable as a conventional pet.
The unexpected discovery sparked a race to find somewhere safe to house the animal.
According to ABC Sevilla, the Guardia Civil’s SEPRONA wildlife protection unit was fully occupied at the time and unable to collect the crocodile immediately.
The city’s Municipal Animal Protection and Control Centre also had no capacity to receive it.
As a result, officers arranged for the reptile to be transferred to La Reserva del Castillo de las Guardas, a wildlife park outside Sevilla equipped to care for exotic species, including crocodiles, with dedicated aquatic enclosures.
Police have not yet confirmed who owned the crocodile or whether any offences relating to the possession of protected or exotic animals will be brought as part of the wider investigation.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
