Residents of cities in north Mexico, in the state of Tamaulipas bordering Texas in the USA, have reported sighting crocodiles after at least 200 of the large reptiles migrated following heavy rainfall from the recent Hurricane Beryl and the previous Tropical Storm Alberto, the Austin American-Statesman newspaper reported on the weekend.
Mexican authorities said the downpour that accompanied both storms raised water levels in the coastal lagoons that the predatory reptiles normally inhabit, forcing the animals to crawl into cities like Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira. At least 165 crocodiles were captured and relocated, the newspaper reported.
In a statement that was published on the micro-blogging site X, the Tamaulipas state environment department’s head, Karina Lizeth Saldívar, said, “The recent rains have increased water levels in the lagoon systems, which has led to an increase in the sightings of crocodiles”.
The office of the attorney general for environmental protection said 40 more crocodiles were captured in the same north Mexico area in June and relocated to appropriate habitats away from populated areas.
The office warned that the problem was likely to persist for a while, and cautioned citizens that “as the water levels go down in places like streets and drainage canals that were flooded, crocodiles will turn up and sightings will certainly increase”.
