An alleged alligator spotted in a drainage canal has attracted attention in Capaccio Paestum, in the Salerno area. The report concerns the Laura Nuovo consortium canal, in the Laura area, an agricultural area crossed by waterways and scattered houses. The alarm was raised by a restaurant entrepreneur who, after noticing the large reptile, contacted the municipal police, immediately triggering checks.
Searches underway between canals and drone overflights
After the report, the emergency protocol was activated. The Paestum Reclamation Consortium, the eco-zoophile guards, the WWF, the volunteers of the National Association of Fire Brigades on leave and the Civil Protection, which is coordinating the searches, intervened on site. The affected area was cordoned off and subjected to targeted searches, including with the use of drones. In some points of the canal baits were placed to check for any movements of the animal.
Police checks
The Salerno Police Headquarters and the Carabinieri are also investigating the matter, in collaboration with the local police. The authorities are evaluating the reliability of the sighting, starting from the source of the report and the images circulated on social media, which do not appear to have been manipulated. According to what transpires, no leads have been ruled out at the moment. The commander of the municipal police invited residents to maintain maximum caution, avoiding approaching the canals and paying attention to children and pets.
Joke hypothesis and illegal exotic animals
Alongside the possibility that it is a real alligator, the hypothesis of the joke also takes shape. In fact, there are very realistic crocodile-shaped floats and reproductions on the market, which could have generated a false alarm. In this case, the Civil Protection has made it known that action would be taken based on the cause of alarm. Another hypothesis being examined is that of an exotic animal illegally detained, then escaped or abandoned because it became too large to be managed.
A mystery still open
The episode has also sparked debate among naturalists and experts, some of whom point out that, from the images, some anatomical details could suggest an artificial object. Others instead urge caution, recalling that cases of illegal possession of reptiles are not rare. In the meantime, the regional councilor for Civil Protection, Fiorella Zabatta, has started a discussion with university experts to definitively clarify the nature of the sighting. Until the research is concluded, the “alligator mystery” remains open.
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