His name is Sifis – a popular name for Cretan males. His is alleged to 180 cm long, even though nobody has come close to the mysterious crocodile wandering and swimming around in the lake of Potami Dam on the Amari plain in the prefecture of Rethymnon in the resort island of Crete.
The reptile was spotted by two men of the local Fire brigades over the weekend and set Greek and international crocodile experts and dandies on alert: how did the crocodile get there? How old is he? how long is he? How long has he been there? And most important: is he a “he” or a “she”? And does he/she have a partner or not? Of course, crucial is also the question: is this a crocodile or an alligator?
Many of these questions are more likely to be answered once the experts catch the crocodile. But so far nobody has managed to come close to the cheerful and careless reptile that enjoys the greenish water of the man-made lake and the sun shining over Crete.
Video: the crocodile of Crete – video allegedly shot by a drone …
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Local authorities have fenced the area where the crocodile was spotted and banned swimming although it is not knowing that people swim in the dam lake.
Amateur snap shot…. uploaded by Cretan media
It is not possible that the crocodile hatched from an egg planted ashore of the Potami Dam. The founder of Attikon Park in Athens told Skai TV on Monday, that the reptile was most probably been kept as a baby pet and that he was abandoned there once he grew longer.
Video: Sifis, the crocodile, live on Skai TV ! after 2:04 min.
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Analyzing the croco’s swimming performance, other experts estimated that the crocodile is not longer than half a meter and most likely younger than 2 years old, as older reptiles of this category were not that quick and snappy when in the water.
Video: Sifis, the crocodile, secretly filmed !
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A team of experts is expected to launch a search and …rescue operation, catch the crocodile and transfer him into a safe and “tropical location” or in an area close to his natural environment. It is not known whether in Greece or abroad.
Meanwhile the crocodile of Crete has been the attraction Number One for Cretan and tourists visiting Rethymnon, the curious human have been flocking in the area with the effect that the shy reptile to have most likely gone underground annoyed by the crocodile-watchers’ noise.
But why do we call him “Sifis”? Because his fans have created a Page on Facebook.
Sifis the crocodile, and his friends have more than 5.260 Likes and the number of supporters is growing. Sifis is very talkative on social media, he posts jokes, mantinades (shot poems), while his supporters wish him luck and courage.
Well… I leave for Rethymnon. – Have a nice trip. Call me when you get there!
Sifis, the crocodile posted also a link to the international convention for crocodile rights.
The famous star has a point: nobody would be surprise should he be harmed during the ‘search and rescue operation”.
Experts told Greek media, theat they intend to capture the reptile with a fishing net and much of the operation will depend of the state of mind and feelings of Sifis.
I suppose they mean whether the cute croco would be scared and in panic or whether he will greed his Dandy with a big grind and a playful hug.
PS I estimated, Sifis to be 0.80- 1.20m long…. Place your bet!
