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Crikey! Swamped owner surrenders 150 reptiles

A look at the new Crocodile Rescue Building at the Indian River Reptile Zoo.

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It took about 20 volunteers four days to remove the crocodiles and alligators and take them by truck to the zoo, located about 100 miles east of Toronto.

A Toronto couple forfeited their personal zoo of almost 150 crocodiles and alligators last week after realizing they could no longer care for them, the Toronto Star reported.

It is illegal to own crocodilia in the Canadian city. Loyst said that the person looking after animals actually did a good job considering the situation.

On animals such as birds, rodents and rabbits, there are no limits, Bandow said, and it’s the same for reptiles. “Most of the animals are in great health”. He also said they were impressed with how well-taken care of the animals were.

Despite being illegal in Toronto, reptiles are often sold as pets when they are very young and small.

Carl Bandow, a supervisor with Toronto Animal Services, told the Toronto Sun that they haven’t been able to follow up because they don’t know the exact location of the home. She added that complaints about prohibited animals are unusual. Keepers kept the eggs at a temperature range to hatch males as part of a survival plan for the species, but it is too early to definitively determine the crocodiles’ sex.

However, “there are other sections of the bylaw that can be used if the animals cause a nuisance or a noise problem”, he said.

The Indian River Reptile Zoo isn’t alone in fielding calls for help.

Andre NGO, Reptilia’s director of research and curriculum, said his facility receives “constant calls” for help. “These were not baby little crocodiles, they were adults”.

“It is pretty irresponsible”.

Regardless of whether it’s cats or crocodiles, 150 is a lot of any one pet. So just how many reptiles can you have in your home?

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Loyst speculated the collection “started out as a business and (they) fell in love with the crocodiles and kept them as pets”.

New home An Ontario zoo has saved upwards of 150 reptiles- crocodiles alligators and caimans- from a private owner. They now reside at Indian River Reptile Zoo