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Alligator alarm in Vechta: City is looking for the reptile with rat bait!
A suspected alligator was spotted in Vechta. The city administration is looking for the animal with a live trap.
Alligator alarm in Vechta: City is looking for the reptile with rat bait!
An unexpected visit is causing a stir in Vechta: an alligator, estimated to be around 80 to 100 centimeters, was spotted in a pond. The city administration has confirmed the suspicion that it is a young reptile that was probably released illegally. Loud ndr.de The animal was probably dumped in the rain retention basin on Schweriner Strasse. A young man spotted the animal and filmed it, prompting an immediate response from police who cordoned off the area.
However, in an area of 2.5 hectares that was searched twice with a drone, the reptile we were looking for remained undiscoverable. To catch the alligator, a live trap is used that is equipped with a dead rat as bait. The local city administration stated that for the safety of residents and pets, there is no need to panic as the animal is considered very shy.
Illegal keeping as suspected cause
The discovery in Vechta raises questions about illegal practices in dealing with exotic animals. Loud wwf.de Reptiles are highly sought after animals in the exotic pet market. Popular species range from snakes to turtles to lizards, although many of these animals are traded without the necessary documentation. The black market is thriving as many owners try to circumvent the strict regulations. This can have fatal consequences for the animals themselves, as smuggled reptiles often do not survive the ordeal.
An example of the problems in dealing with alligators internationally can also be seen in the USA: a 3.4 meter long and 340 kilogram alligator was confiscated from a house in Hamburg, New York, after the owner did not renew his license. This alligator, which unfortunately also suffered from health problems, was kept in a house with a swimming pool so that visitors could interact with it, according to weather.com.
The situation surrounding the alligator in Vechta highlights the problem of illegal animal husbandry and the responsibility that every animal owner brings with them. Even if there are no sufficient protection measures for many exotic animals and plants, we as a society must work to preserve these species. Illegal practices and abuses must be uncovered and consistently pursued in order to guarantee the animals a safe life.