Baby crocodile caught in Matraman

Agus, a resident of Matraman Dalam III neighborhood unit in Matraman, Central Jakarta, shows off a 1.4 meter baby crocodile (photo above) caught from the nearby Ciliwung River.

Witnesses said that the baby crocodile was one of three baby crocodiles floating on the Ciliwung river on Monday. Matraman residents are still on the lookout for other crocodiles, fearing for their safety.

The baby crocodile has been placed in a garbage cart with local residents opening a donation box for the crocodile which eats almost anything.

And this is not a usual catch.

"I had this dream in which an elderly grandmother came to me and asked me to take care of her ailing grandchildren," a resident, Usup, was quoted by detik.com news portal as saying.

"I did not pay much attention to the dream until the three crocodiles showed up when I was relaxing by the Ciliwung riverbank," he added.

Usup has refused to sell the crocodile although several people have offered him a considerable amount of money, reaching up to Rp 600,000 (US$68).

"I guess it is my obligation to keep the crocodile because the granny in my dream said that her grandchildren were sick."

Usup, nevertheless, said that he would give the crocodile to Ragunan Zoo so it could receive better care. -- JP