A dwarf crocodile also known as the African Dwarf Crocodile has been found at Oduom in the Oforikrom Municipality of the Ashanti region. The reptile was found close to a clinic near Adwapa River in the community after today's heavy downpour. It scared many, but scores of locals rushed to the scene to take a glance. Some of the locals described the appearance of the animal as unusual, and some read spiritual meaning to it. This is the first time the reptile had been seen by the locals and according to them, it was about 28 years ago when a also Python appeared in the community.
About Dwarf Crocodile
Dwarf crocodiles attain a medium adult length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft), though the maximum recorded length for this species is 1.9 m (6.2 ft). Adult specimens typically weigh between 18 and 32 kg (40 and 71 lb), with the largest females weighing up to 40 kg (88 lb) and the largest males weighing 80 kg (180 lb). This makes it the smallest living crocodile species, although the Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), a member of the family Alligatoridae, is smaller at up to about 1.7 m (5.6 ft). As a result of its small size and heightened vulnerability to predation, this species of crocodile has a heavily armoured neck, back, and tail and also has osteoderms on its belly and underside of neck. Dwarf crocodiles live from lowlands to mid-altitude in streams, small rivers, swamps, pools and mangrove, but generally avoid main sections of large rivers. Most of their range is within forested regions, but it may extend into more open regions where the streams or river are well-shaded. Unlike most crocodiles, dwarf crocodiles only rarely bask in the sun. During the night they may move some distance from water on land. Reports exist of dwarf crocodiles in isolated pools in the savannah.
Community scare
Despite the scare of some of the residents, one of the locals, Peter Opoku popularly called Nana Buadie, rushed to the scene, grabbed the animal by the tail, and dragged it away.
He told Elisha Adarkwah of ghenvironment.com that he would not hand over the animal to the Kumasi Zoological Garden, and would eat it even if he would die of it. Meanwhile, the Chief of Oduom, Nana Osei Amankwah III, has expressed unhappiness about the action of Peter Opoku, who took the animal away. Nana Amankwah believes the animal appeared from the Adwapa River and for that reason, it was a deity.
The necessary rituals, he said, were about to be performed only to be told that the animal had been taken away