A constabulary launched what they called their ‘most bizarre request ever’ this week – following a report of a crocodile being abandoned in a waterway.
Officials from the Derbyshire Rural Crime Team requested information regarding a crocodile that had floated ashore in Willington, South Derbyshire, on Thursday.
The team stated that a witness had noticed a lifeless crocodile, believed to have been left in the river.
The discovery incited a degree of anxiety amongst law enforcement personnel after the reptile was observed between bridges 22 and 22a on the Trent and Mersey Canal, in proximity to Mercia Marina.
Upon arriving at the scene, authorities discovered that the crocodile was gone, which led to a public appeal for anyone with details about the creature.
In a Thursday communication on Facebook, the team shared: ‘We recognize this is likely the most atypical appeal to ever feature on our Facebook page; nonetheless, we are soliciting your assistance concerning a suspected crocodile reported to have been discarded in South Derbyshire.
‘Indeed, your interpretation is accurate… a crocodile!
‘Venturing a guess, we suggest this particular reptile is not native to Derbyshire, thus, if you possess any knowledge pertaining to the crocodile’s current whereabouts.’
The riddle was clarified in under 24 hours, as the team released an ‘unexpected’ update confirming that the croc was not a dead animal – but actually a taxidermied being filled with straw.
In an updated communication, the police expressed: ‘Profound gratitude to all who disseminated our recent request regarding the crocodile sighted near a South Derbyshire canal. We are now able to verify that the enigma has been resolved!
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‘An individual from the public has since provided insight, explaining that the crocodile was a preserved taxidermy piece, filled with hay, and unintentionally ensnared during a fishing expedition.
‘While this event furnished us all with an element of surprise, it appears that this particular instance was characterized more by stuffing than dread!’
The department conveyed their appreciation to the community for their collaboration and encouraged individuals to maintain alertness, because ‘the nature of future discoveries remains uncertain’.
They lightheartedly added: ‘It is not a frequent occurrence that we can declare we’ve managed a crocodile issue in Derbyshire’.
Sourse: metro.co.uk
