Snappy ending: Sax finally catches its elusive river caiman

Police have finally captured a spectacled caiman that spent around three months hiding along the Vinalopo River in Sax. The unusual search involved Local Police, the Guardia Civil and environmental officers, with drones and night-vision equipment among the tools used as teams tried to track down the elusive reptile.

Three-month search along Vinalopo river

The unusual hunt began after a resident reported seeing the reptile near the river during the summer, prompting a search involving Sax Local Police, the Guardia Civil and SEPRONA environmental officers.

Drones and night-vision equipment were brought in as teams attempted to track down the elusive animal, but weeks of searching failed to produce a capture.

The caiman managed to remain hidden along the river for around three months despite the efforts to locate it.

Municipal workers provide vital clue

The breakthrough eventually came from municipal workers clearing vegetation from the river.

They discovered part of the caiman’s tail near a bridge, providing police with an important clue to its location.

Officers were subsequently able to find and capture the reptile, bringing the three-month search to an end.

SEPRONA collected the animal from Sax Local Police and arranged for it to be transferred to Rio Safari Elche, where specialists will assess its condition and oversee its recovery.

Mystery surrounds caiman’s arrival in Sax

Spectacled caimans are crocodilians native to Central and South America and can grow to a substantial size.

Exactly how this one ended up living wild beside the Vinalopo remains a mystery.

The animal had no identification, leaving investigators with the task of establishing where it came from and how it found its way into the river environment around Sax.

Authorities investigate reptile’s origin

The case has now been reported to the relevant authorities responsible for the CITES international wildlife trade regulations.

Investigators will try to establish the caiman’s origin and whether it escaped or was deliberately released.

For now, its capture brings an end to an unusual three-month operation that saw police, environmental officers and municipal workers involved in the hunt for an exotic reptile living alongside the Vinalopo river.