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🇪🇨 Ecuador /Crime & Justice

Guayaquil Municipality condemns illegal crocodile capture amid public alarm

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Guayaquil Municipality's Environment Directorate condemned the irresponsible handling of a crocodile captured on video.
  • The incident, which occurred in the city's Suburbio, involved a man carrying a crocodile, sparking public alarm.
  • Authorities reminded citizens that illegal possession and handling of wildlife are punishable by law, with penalties including imprisonment.

The Guayaquil Municipality's Environment Directorate has strongly condemned the irresponsible handling of a crocodile, following the circulation of a video showing a man carrying the reptile on his shoulders. The incident reportedly took place on August 25, 2026, in the city's Suburbio area, causing significant concern among residents and animal welfare advocates.

The protection is everyone's responsibility.

— Dirección de Ambiente del Municipio de GuayaquilThe Directorate emphasized the shared responsibility for protecting vulnerable species like the coastal crocodile.

In a statement released Tuesday, the Directorate denounced the "irresponsible manipulation" of a coastal crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). The institution emphasized that the illegal possession and handling of wild fauna are criminal offenses under Ecuador's Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP). Article 247 of the COIP stipulates prison sentences of one to three years for individuals who possess, capture, transport, or trade protected wildlife.

The coastal crocodile is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN and is included in Appendix I of CITES, highlighting the need for its protection. The Directorate stressed that "its protection is everyone's responsibility." They warned that manipulating wild animals poses risks to both the animal and humans, potentially causing stress, behavioral changes, and accidents.

Manipulating wild fauna puts the animal and people at risk, potentially causing stress, behavioral changes, and accidents.

— Dirección de Ambiente del Municipio de GuayaquilThe Directorate warned about the dangers associated with handling wild animals.

This incident follows recent reports of crocodiles and caimans appearing in various parts of Guayaquil. The foundation Proyecto Sacha has formally requested the urgent rescue of the crocodile, urging municipal, zonal, and national environmental authorities to deploy resources for its location, rescue, and veterinary evaluation. They have also called upon the National Police and the State Attorney General's Office to investigate and identify the person seen in the video to pursue legal action.

We request the municipal, zonal, and National Environmental Authority (MAATE) to deploy the necessary technical resources without delay for its location, rescue, and veterinary evaluation.

— Fundación Proyecto SachaThe foundation formally requested authorities to rescue the crocodile.

The Directorate also noted that 18,628 citizens have been educated on wildlife protection and ecosystems, and the municipality has collaborated on wildlife rescue efforts. They urged the public not to normalize or share such acts as entertainment and to report any instances of illegal wildlife possession or handling to the competent authorities.

We formally request the National Police and the State Attorney General's Office to immediately initiate investigations to identify and locate the person recorded in the video, and to proceed with the corresponding criminal process for the alleged crime against wildlife.

— Fundación Proyecto SachaThe foundation called for a criminal investigation into the man seen in the video.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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