No parking for crocodiles

  • 2008-03-12
  • In cooperation with BNS
RIGA - Shoppers got a nasty surprise on the morning of March 12 when they discovered a crocodile on the loose in a public car park.

Luckily, no-one was turned into an impromptu snack by the rampant reptile as it was of the stuffed variety.

Riga Municipal Police spokeswoman Inese Timane told BNS that the policereceived a call at 8 a.m. When policemen arrived, theyfound the crocodile there, just as described. Food and Veterinary Service representativeswere present and their years of specialist training confirmed that it was indeed stuffed and therefore no cause for alarm.

Food and Veterinary Service spokeswoman Solveiga Smiltene told BNS thatsomebody must have left it as a joke, taking the stuffed animal out of thegarbage container. The stuffed animal was described as being "in a very poor state."

Veterinary service experts took the crocked croc to the Nature ProtectionBoard to see whether it is possible to restore it and place it on display in amuseum.