July 19, 2019
The Islamic Republic has banned the private ownership of crocodiles like the one above and said violators will face fines and even imprisonment. The mugger crocodile, also called the marsh crocodile, is native to freshwater regions of Sistan va Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran, plus coastal Pakistan. India and Sri Lanka. Only about 500 are believe to survive in Iran. Asghar Mobaraki, a herpetologist, told the Fars news agency the government was concerned that the use of photos of the crocodiles in a recent television spy program named “Gando” (Crocodile) promoted a desire by some viewers to have a croc as a pet. However, the only known private owner of crocodiles is a couple on Qeshm Island who have for many years run a sanctuary that cares for and breeds the crocodiles.
