This is the heartbreaking image of a huge crocodile which was found dead after being slowly suffocated for days in a car tyre thrown into a river as rubbish.
The Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) was spotted by residents of the municipality of Tuxpan, in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz.
Local media report the crocodile, measuring three metres (9.8 feet) in length, was spotted floating in the river and worried residents called the fire service and Civil protection workers as they were scared it was alive and could pose a threat.
However, when the emergency services arrived they found the crocodile was dead and stuck in the car tyre.
According to the Direction of Ecology of the local city council, the crocodile had been stuck in the tyre for several days and had tried to fight its way out before suffocating to death. The tyre is believed to have been thrown into the river as rubbish.
Local media report the crocodile suffocated to death whilst fighting to get out of the tyre.
Reports state the Morelet’s crocodile is being moved away from its natural habitat because of human invasion and hunting.
Local residents told reporters that fauna in the area around the river has been decreasing little by little.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
