National Environmental Authority personnel rescued an over-50 pound caiman crocodile at the Alonso Valderrama airport in Chitre.
The crocodile is one of 19 caimans found wandering around the Chitre landing strip over the last five years. It, like the others, was removed from the airport and released into the Cenegon del Mangle wildlife refuge in Paris de Parita.
The caiman is a carnivorous reptile that lives in the lowland wetland and riverine habitats of Central and South America. It is currently the most abundant crocodilian species and most harvested in the hide industry.
