Crocodile drama in Sofia: Surprise pool discovery sparks standoff

A crocodile was discovered in a pool in one of Sofia's districts. The owner did not have any documents but adamantly refused to hand the animal over to the zoo.

City officials in Sofia received a report that someone had seen a crocodile in a pool in the Botunets district.

When they arrived, they encountered a reptile over 7 feet long. They called veterinary services, who quickly transported it to a safe location.

Surprised by the commotion, the crocodile's owners claimed they were circus performers and had all the necessary documents to keep the crocodile.

When authorities asked to see the documents, it became clear that they had none. Worse, they could not prove that the crocodile was legally brought into the country. The owner, however, was adamant and argued for an hour that he would not give up the crocodile, as he did not understand the basis for relinquishing it. According to local media, he feared that if the animal was sedated, it might die. The zoo staff assured him, "It will only be sedated and then captured and relocated."

Ultimately, it was decided that the crocodile would stay in the pool for another night and that its chip and documents would be checked the next day, August 7th. "We decided to postpone it until tomorrow to avoid causing a 'house of madness'," informed the Regional Environmental and Water Inspection staff from Sofia.

This is not the first case of keeping a wild animal in unsuitable conditions in Bulgaria.

A few years ago, there was much talk about tigers being kept in an illegal private zoo.

Source: PAP/fakti.bg