Crocodiles And Other Wild Animals Invade Mexico Hotel
(Photo: Twitter)
Screenshot from: Karen Azul Twitter Account

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, people are forced to stay indoors but the staff of a hotel in the city of Cancun, Mexico has been met with unlikely visitors: crocodiles.

According to a recent article, partially empty hotels have now become the breeding, hunting, and playgrounds for these wild predators as the quarantine is extended.

An image circulating in social media features a crocodile resting and threatening the hotel employees with its tremendous open jaws, showing the sharp fangs ready to crush.

Aside from the unlikely guest, a boa was also spotted on the grounds of the hotel moving with great freedom.

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Around Cancun and the Riviera Maya, raccoons have also taken over hotels and surprised the staff with their presence.

Still, in Mexico, crocodiles have taken control over a beach of a popular resort after it shut down operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by Latin Post.

Photos circulating in social media shows the lagoon beach at La Ventanilla in Oaxaca, serving as home to several crocodiles bathing under the sun. Some crocs were even caught surfing the waves.

While the upliftment of the lockdown is still uncertain, it is expected that there will be further sightings of wild animals recovering their homes or their natural habitat where large hotel complexes are currently located.

Cancun Crocodiles Harmless to Tourists

Contrary to popular belief, the crocodiles located in the Nichupté Lagoon in Cancun's hotel district are harmless to tourists, according to Javier Carvallar Osorio, manager of the conservation program of the Onca Maya A.C. organization.

Carvallar Osorio explained that Nichupté Lagoon is home to two types of crocodile species: one is Acutus, also known as the American crocodile, and the other, Moreletii, or the swamp crocodile.

He added that these species base their diet on insects, fish, turtles and other animals that do not include human beings. It is quite the opposite: they fear humans because they are the main predator of the animal, said the specialist.

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On the reports of crocodile attacks, the Onca Maya's conservation program manager said they only happen when people accidentally approach, feed, enter or fall into the lagoon.

"We're talking about animals that fear man because he's their biggest predator. However, there are people who feed them, the crocodile bites them but in reality what it wants is food because if you realize there have never been cases of crocodiles that eat people, those are not here," said the environmentalist.

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Carvallar Osorio implored the general population to refrain from feed the animals and if they see one leave it alone, do not approach it and immediately report it to the Federal Attorney for Animal Protection (Profepa) hotline.

Man-eating crocodiles would be those that inhabit the swamps of the Amazon or in places like New Zealand, said Javier Carvallar.