Dangerous Crocodiles Found in Beirut River

A crocodile was reportedly found on Wednesday in Beirut River as witnesses said more than one reptile existed in the area.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper posted a video footage it took of the crocodile, whose age is estimated to be between 3 to 5 years old.

The same source said, however, that it cannot prove the presence of other crocodiles yet.

"We cannot confirm if other reptiles are present in the river, or if it was thrown there.”

Meanwhile, witnesses present in the Beirut River area said that “at least three other reptiles of same specie were present in the river.”

"The crocodiles surpass four meters in length, and they are located near the river's mouth on the seaside,” they remarked.

Veterinarian Walid Darwish told the newspaper that the crocodile caught on camera is “one of the most dangerous types of the specie.”

"It is a Crocodylus Niloticus (or a Nile crocodile) and it is among the most dangerous crocodiles in the world,” he said.

Darwish warned: “This African crocodile is dangerous to human beings and is responsible for hundreds of deaths each year.”

"It is the second largest extant reptile in the word and although it can survive in salty water, it prefers to live in lakes and rivers, and sometimes in the sea near the shore.”

"The Nile crocodiles are very social and they feed on fish and preys. They can attack and kill animals four times their size,” he added.

"If they were very hungry, they sometimes kill other crocodiles and eat them.”