At around 3 pm on June 7, villagers reported to local rescue team that a crocodile used in circus performances had escaped and was hiding in a pond of a nearby river channel, according to a Henan-based media outlet.

Receiving the report, the local rescue team conducted an on-site inspection and found that. Due to the deep water in the pond and the approaching nightfall, it was unsuitable to proceed with the capture operation. They decided to postpone the operation until the next day.

The team deployed professional water pumping equipment to drain the pond where the crocodile was hiding. As the water level in the pond dropped, the crocodile gradually became visible, the report said.

After more than six hours of pumping, the rescuers finally captured the crocodile on the evening of June 8. A team member said the escaped crocodile was about 1.6 meters long.

A local government official confirmed that only one performing crocodile had escaped due to staff mismanagement. The crocodile has since been properly resettled, the report said.

The official added that after learning of the incident, patrols were arranged near the river channel. No injuries were reported, the official said.


Global Times