Niterói firefighters rescue nearly 2-meter caiman from urban area

Firefighters in Niterói rescued an adult male broad-snouted caiman in the Itaipu region on Tuesday morning. The reptile, measuring 1.96 meters in length and weighing approximately 45 kilograms, was found camouflaged in a flowerbed on Avenida Augusto Ferreira Ramos near the João Mendes River.

The rescue was initiated around 5:44 a.m. after a local resident walking a pet spotted the animal and alerted authorities. The 4th Maritime Group isolated the area to ensure public safety during the operation. A firefighter with veterinary medical training conducted a clinical evaluation, determining that the caiman was in good physical condition with normal physiological parameters and no visible injuries.

Authorities attributed the animal's presence in the urban area to its proximity to the João Mendes River, which connects the Engenho do Mato region to the Itaipu lagoon system through mangroves and the Camboatá Canal. The caiman was released into the Camboatá Canal to return it to its natural habitat.