Bacalar, Q.R. — Marine specialists were able to treat an injured crocodile that was seen in the Bacalar lagoon. Personnel from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection and a veterinarian from the Office for Environmental Protection responded to the 911 call for assistance.
Accompanied by the Bacalar Ecology Directorate, officials found the injured reptile floating in a section of lagoon. The crocodile had an injured right eye and a hook embedded in the upper left part.
The crocodile was captured and removed from the water where a veternarian located its injuries. It was transferred to the Payo Obispo Zoo in the city of Chetumal where it underwent surgery to extract the hook.
The crocodile is currently recovering in zoo facilities where it continues to be cared for before being released back into the wild. The Attorney General’s Office is reminding people to fish responsibly, to ensure all equipment is removed and secured to avoid injuries to wildlife.