Tourists' horror as CROCODILE spotted lurking in Spanish holiday hotspot

Panicked tourists fled in horror after a 3ft crocodile was spotted swimming in a reservoir at a popular Spanish holiday destination.

The reptile, later identified as a yacare caiman, was seen slithering through the water near a busy bathing area in Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha, sending holidaymakers into a frenzy. Two stunned teens first spotted the beast before it was eventually captured by police, just metres from where families had been cooling off in the scorching summer heat. Authorities are now desperately hunting the person responsible for dumping the crocodile into the reservoir as they believe it could have put people's lives at risk.

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The creature, originally mistaken for an alligator, belongs to a crocodile family usually found lurking in the wilds of Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia, but not in Spain.

Specialist officers from the Guardia Civil’s nature team, Seprona, backed by local fishing club members and wildlife experts, launched a dramatic operation to bait and capture the reptile before it could strike.

It was lurking near a jetty at a popular swimming spot when it was caught. It’s since been transferred to Madrid Zoo. Now, investigators have launched a probe into who smuggled it into the country, with fears it may have been part of the illegal exotic pet trade, the Sun reports.

Officials say the release of non-native animals without a permit is not just reckless, but also a criminal offence which can lead to an ecological disaster. A spokesman for the local environemntal agency said: "“This type of irresponsible release represents a serious risk to local biodiversity and can generate security problems."

The shock find has sparked fear in the area, with some locals and tourists now too scared to swim in lakes and reservoirs as they're terrified there could be more lurking beneath the surface.

The yacare caiman, which can grow up to 1.5 metres, is highly prized in the footwear industry for its skin, but is protected under international laws.

While its main diet consists of fish, crustaceans and snails, experts warn it’s more than capable of snapping up small mammals and reptiles when hungry.