Crocodile found abandoned on Long Island nature trail

A two-foot crocodile was discovered walking along a trail at the Holtsville Wildlife & Ecology Center on Long Island. The animal was found by town employees working on the property, which closed earlier this year.

The Strong Island Animal Rescue League, which assisted in the rescue, is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual responsible for illegally dumping the reptile. Frank Floridia, president of the nonprofit, noted that crocodiles are illegal to possess in New York and expressed concern regarding both the potential danger to humans and the lack of a proper habitat for the animal.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has taken custody of the crocodile, which must be removed from the state. The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is currently investigating the origin of the animal and the circumstances of its abandonment.