The Civil Guard ends the search after finding no indications or evidence of a possible reptile at the confluence of the Duero-Pisuerga river
After six days of searching, there are no indications of the existence of the possible crocodile
In a first phase, an active search was carried out with trackers and in a second phase, all kinds of technical means were incorporated.
The Civil Guard of Valladolid, concludes the search for the alleged crocodile that had been sighted in the municipality of Simancas (Valladolid), at the confluence of the Duero and Pisuerga rivers.
The Civil Guard had knowledge of the events through the Simancas Local Police, on Saturday June 6. This reported that some young people from the town on the afternoon of Friday, June 5, had sighted an animal at the confluence of the Duero and Pisuerga rivers crossing the river from shore to shore, which they did not identify but seemed to be a species of crocodile. A Local Police officer went to the scene on Saturday morning, also observing the animal swimming in the river, claiming that it appeared to be a large reptile.
Immediately, the Civil Guard of Citizen Security and SEPRONA (Nature Protection Service) moved to the area, delimiting the area and accesses where the alleged sighting occurred, to guarantee the safety of citizens, not allowing access to the place.
Subsequently, the search for evidence or indications was started both by SEPRONA along the riverbank, and by the GEAS (Specialist Group for Underwater Activities) along the riverbed, visiting both banks and islets located in the area.
In the first two days of searching, possible evidences such as a devoured fish are found in the area, as well as an area with possible tracks, the type of animal to which they may belong was not identified.
On Monday, June 8, three members of the Madrid-based non-profit Association Chelonia, which is made up of scientists and biologists, have joined the search media, which have already collaborated with different Ministries and SEPRONA in other ocasions. Among the projects of this association is the study and tracking of crocodile species in different areas of the world.
There was the collaboration of an experienced tracker who, after observing the first evidence and traces, forcefully ruled out any indication that they were produced by a species of crocodile, even claiming that the fish devoured was by an otter, since a crocodile would gobble it up whole. Likewise, on the alleged footprints, he stated that they did not correspond to this type of reptile.
The Civil Guard expanded the search area to a 6-kilometer stretch, from a power plant to a dam, since according to the orography of the place according to the technicians, it was very difficult for an animal of these characteristics to overcome these obstacles.
On Tuesday the 9th, and after the search was actively terminated and the work carried out in the area, and after the trackers denied the compatibility of the vestiges found with the existence of this type of animal, without completely ruling it out, it continued with the search operation through technical means, in order to be able to discard its existence with a higher percentage of reliability.
For this purpose, we proceeded to install motion detection cameras (phototrapping), bait placement, use of thermal cameras on night routes and the use of a drone traveling through the most inaccessible areas of the riverbanks.
After the use of these passive technical means, until today no evidence or indications have been found that allow us to assure that there is a type of reptile in the area, so the search for it is terminated.
The Civil Guard wants to thank the collaboration of all the organisms, associations and individuals that have disinterestedly offered to participate in the device and in particular to the Chelonia Association, Ecoespacio (drone flight) and Ramón Valentín Gamazo. As well as to the affected Town Halls, environmental agents, CHD staff and citizens who at all times have respected the limitations and
