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Crocodile sightings on Playa del Carmen suburban beaches increasing

Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — Small crocodile sightings have increased around some Playa del Carmen beaches. Last month, Adrián Medina, the Director of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) in Solidaridad, reported a dozen citizen sightings.

The small crocs were seen swimming mostly in the water areas of Punta Esmeralda and on 68th Street. He said that during the hot month of September, in two weeks, the Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre (Zofemat) received nine reports of crocodiles on city beaches.

Medina says that although the small reptiles do not pose any danger to people, it is best to not approach or try to capture them. He says seeing them around bodies of water, especially in the suburb beach areas, is common due to the nearness of mangroves.

The Solidaridad Zofemat head says beachgoers who encounter a croc should call authorities who will arrive to capture and relocate them.

Sightings should be reported to authorities who will capture and relocate seen reptiles. Photo: Punta Esmeralda 2024

“These are animals that are in their natural habitat but people don’t like them. We haven’t had any reports of attacks, but we do recommend being very cautious around them and report it to the authorities,” he said.