Pictured is an escaped pet Siamese crocodile after it dropped into the yard of a Nanning nursery school on Tuesday morning. Photo: screengrab from Sina Weibo account of Btime.com

Students and teachers at a South China nursery school had a shock Tuesday morning after a loose pet crocodile dropped from an apartment window and onto their doorstep. 

Wildlife authorities were called to the school in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to remove what was later identified as a 1-meter-long Siamese crocodile, an endangered species. 

No one was hurt during the ordeal. 

The fugitive reptile was traced to second-floor resident, surnamed Zhou, who lives directly above the school located in the same apartment complex.  

Zhou explained the croc, which belongs to his 13-year-old brother, had escaped its plastic case, after which it made its way out their window.  

The pet was purchased last year when it was only 20 centimeters long, Zhou said. 

"Considering what happened, we can't keep it any longer, but we can't just simply release it into nature," Zhou added. 

The croc was taken to the Nanning Zoo. 

Native to Southeast Asia, Siamese crocodiles can grow up to 3 meters long. They are also critically endangered.

Crocodile ownership requires a permit, according to Chinese law.  

gxnews.com.cn