Manal Awad, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, confirmed that the ministry has taken immediate action after a live crocodile was found in the sea in the Abu Talat area of Alexandria. The crocodile, with its mouth tied, was captured and handed over to the Alexandria Zoo in cooperation with security agencies and the Public Prosecution.
The Ministry of Environment’s regional branch in Alexandria received a report from the Central Administration for Tourism, Resorts, and the Agami District, stating that beach workers in Abu Talat found a live, one-meter-long crocodile floating in the sea with its mouth tightly bound with tape. Following the report, Awad immediately issued directives to handle the situation quickly in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Awad explained that Nile crocodiles do not live in seawater. It is likely that the crocodile was being illegally raised by a private citizen and was thrown into the sea or the Abu Talat agricultural drain, which connects to the sea, either because it grew too large or the owner wanted to get rid of it.
She added that researchers from the Ministry of Environment’s Alexandria branch have swept the area at the mouth of the Abu Talat drain and confirmed there are no other crocodiles.
Awad also emphasized the need for the Ministry of Environment to take all necessary measures to combat the illegal wildlife trade. In cooperation with the General Administration of Environmental Police and other concerned authorities, the ministry will implement an annual plan to inspect markets, wildlife farms, tourist villages, and other licensed facilities to ensure the protection of wildlife and biodiversity.
The minister called on citizens to protect and preserve wildlife and avoid illegal hunting or raising wild animals without the necessary permits. She highlighted the importance of these animals for ecological balance and human life, in addition to the legal accountability for violating environmental laws and related international agreements.
