25 Crocodiles Loose In Tamaulipas Streets After Hurricane Ingrid Passes Through Mexico [VIDEO]

Swollen lakes and rivers in the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas have drawn crocodiles into the streets of three municipalities after Hurricane Ingrid dumped heavy rains on the region. Some 25 crocs have been captured by Mexico's Secretariat of Agrarian Development and Urban Planning (Seduma), which will return them to their habitat in the southern part of the state, according to Animal Politico. Alfonso Banda Valdez, director of natural resources for Seduma, said that some of the crocodiles had reached up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) in length. Click on the link at the bottom of the page to see footage of captured crocodiles in Acapulco.

Three crocodiles were discovered in the urban zones of Tamaulipas after Tropical Storm Fernand passed through Mexico at the end of August. Firefighters and police had transported those to lakes outside of the city of Altamira before encouraging residents to report to authorities the presence of any animals they might spot in the area. More recently, reports of loose crocodiles following the passage of Tropical Storm Manuel - one of the three storms which has battered Mexico and pushed the death count over 100 people - have also come from the Pacific coast city of Acapulco.

Inhabitants of the village of Puerto Marqués, on the outskirts of Acapulco, captured one crocodile of about 2 meters (over 6 feet) which was said to have escaped from the ecological reserve of Laguna Negra nearby. The animal was wandering about the streets of the village before villagers decided to put a stop to that, in an effort which was filmed by a bystander (see below). According to members of the local media, the villagers tried to propose a trade to the authorities: they'd return the croc, and the authorities would give them the rescue help which many protested was being selectively given out to the most privileged people in the resort city. An estimated 50 crocodiles escaped from Laguna Negra after heavy rains inundated their normal habitat.

At least 101 people have been killed in the trifecta of storms, with 68 are considered missing after a mudslide buried 40 homes in the coffee-growing villaje of La Pintada in Guerrero. Authorities fear the death toll could hit 200 over coming days as rescue efforts continue. 24 of Mexico's 31 states have been affected, with over 58,000 people evacuated and 43,000 in shelters. Almost 800,000 people have lost power through Mexico.

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