Sakher, Gaza Crocodile Escaped From Zoo, Captured After 18 Months

'Troublemaker' Croc Captured After 18 Months
Sakher, a crocodile captured and named by Palestinian police after it lived in a sewage pond since fleeing the zoo in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip two years ago, is seen through cage bars, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. Police officer Lt. Col. Samih al-Sultan says after weeks of chasing the reptile, they finally caught him by entangling him in shark nets. The crocodile was originally bought into blockaded Gaza through a smuggling tunnel linking the territory to neighboring Egypt. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Sakher, a crocodile captured and named by Palestinian police after it lived in a sewage pond since fleeing the zoo in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip two years ago, is seen through cage bars, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. Police officer Lt. Col. Samih al-Sultan says after weeks of chasing the reptile, they finally caught him by entangling him in shark nets. The crocodile was originally bought into blockaded Gaza through a smuggling tunnel linking the territory to neighboring Egypt. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

GAZA (Reuters) - A crocodile on the run from a Gaza zoo for the past 18 months has finally been captured, police said on Tuesday.

The 1.8 meter (6 foot)-long reptile was spotted several weeks ago in sewage pools in the northern Gaza Strip, and villagers complained he had been eating their livestock. Police called in fishermen, who netted the crocodile on Monday.

"He's a beautiful troublemaker," police spokesman Ayman al-Batniji said. "We really sweated to take him alive."

The fugitive was returned to the zoo and reunited with four other crocodiles. Owners of the zoo said the crocodile had grown considerably since his escape, and they decided to name him "Sakher", or Rock, as a tribute to his survival.

(Reporting by Nidal Almughrabi)

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