Crocodile found, killed in Ohio creek

A crocodile weighing over 170 pounds turned up in an Ohio creek Wednesday and was killed by an Ohio Department of Natural Resources officer, officials said.

The animal was spotted by Preble County residents in Bantas Creek and reported to state authorities.

Classified as a "dangerous wild animal" under Ohio law, the crocodile's body was taken to the Ohio Department of Agriculture for examination. It did not have a microchip or tracking implant as required by law, officials said.

Brett B. Gates with the Ohio Department of Agriculture said crocodiles are not native to Ohio and the animal was likely a recently released pet.

The crocodile was an adult about 7-feet, 6-inches in length.

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For the past seven years, it has been illegal to own, sell or trade dangerous wild animals in Ohio. The 2012 law banning the practice was enacted after more than 50 animals were killed in a dramatic incident in Zanesville.

That year, Terry Thompson, the owner of the Muskingum County Animal Farm, released dozens of animals and killed himself.

Surrounding areas were locked down and law enforcement was forced to shoot tigers, lions, bears, baboons and other animals. The hunt took hours and lasted into the night.

The state then banned people from acquiring new dangerous animals. Anyone who already owned one was required to obtain a permit. Microchipping the animals was one of the conditions owners needed to meet to get a permit.

As of Thursday, Ohio officials reported there are 38 active dangerous wild animal permits in Ohio.

Accredited zoos, animal sanctuaries and research facilities are not required to obtain permits.

Other exemptions include: educational institutions that display a single dangerous animal as a mascot and those who own a "service spider monkey trained by a non-profit organization."

Here is a full list of "wild dangerous animals" as defined by Ohio law:

Hyenas, gray wolves, lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cheetahs, lynxes. cougars, caracals, servals, bears, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, cape buffaloes, African wild dogs, Komodo dragons, alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gharials and non-human primates other than lemurs.