Young alligator causes fear and excitement in Vechta!

Young alligator causes fear and excitement in Vechta!

In a small community in Lower Saxony, the sighting of a young alligator causes great excitement. On Friday, a walker discovered the animal about one meter long in a flood protection pool and immediately informed the police. The video he recorded with his cell phone suggests that an exotic reptile has found its way into domestic flora here. The local emergency services reacted promptly and blocked the approximately 2.5 hectare area to organize the search for the alligator. The next day, an entire team, supported by drones, was mobilized to catch the animal. Today.at reports that this type of reptile typically comes from illegal breeding conditions and is often exposed when the holder is overwhelmed.

alligators, warm animals, often do not stand out from the surrounding area in their environment, which also makes searches more difficult. The city administration reported reassuring that the young animal is currently not a danger to the population, since there are still no potential prey in the area. Nevertheless, the dismay is growing over the dangerous exotic ones that are found in this country. The viewing of the alligator raises questions about dealing with invasive species.

invasive species on the advance

The challenges of neobiota, i.e. animals, plants and mushrooms that are not native and have been introduced by humans, have long been known. These invasive species can not only threaten domestic flora and fauna, but also cause considerable damage to the ecosystem. According to the Foundation Nature Conservation, invasive species, such as the raccoon and the giant bear, can spread unhindered, since important natural boundary factors are often missing in new areas. In an estimate, it turns out that out of 1,000 species introduced to the ten later.

In Lower Saxony, the situation is partially fueled by illegal animal husbandry. Experts predict that illegal pet purchases will increase annually. As a result, the amount of observed exotic animals grows steadily. Neobiota Styria points out that many of these animals are not able to survive without human help, which underlines the need for quick action.

Need to raise awareness

The viewing of the alligator has initiated a discussion about dealing with invasive species. Experts and nature conservation organizations call for reporting of invasive species to support nature and species protection. This is intended to ensure effective management and prevention of invasive animal and herbal species. In Germany, the EU Ordinance 1143/2014 applies, which define measures to prevent and control the non-invasive species.

The continued observation of such animals, such as the now viewed alligator, is not only a question of security, but also an important topic for the preservation of biodiversity in the regions. The community now begins not only to search for the alligator, but also to clarify the general dangers and proportions of invasive species. The question remains: How many other unexpected visitors will we find in our ways in the future?