Hurricane Ida, which has now passed a tropical storm, destroyed homes, left millions without energy, and destroyed highways in the United States. But now residents of the affected areas are faced with a new danger: crocodiles hiding under water that flooded the streets.
While walking through the affected area, a man was attacked by a crocodile and is still missing in the Slidell area of New Orleans, the Associated Press reports.
The frightening nature of crocodile attacks on flooded settlements after the hurricane now worries the authorities.
“This is an area full of swamps, crocodiles and very dangerous conditions,” local leader Cynthia Li Sheng explained to CNN, noting that help should only be provided at dawn.
However, experts say that while there are about five million crocodiles in the south of the country, attacks during or after hurricanes are rare.
“They are much smarter than humans,” explained Joe Wasilewski, a biologist at the University of Florida who has worked with crocodiles and alligators for over 40 years. “They immediately seek refuge [perante um furacão]… “
However, they can pose a hazard after a storm, especially in regions close to watercourses, and can invade flood waters in areas and communities that these reptiles cannot normally be seen.
“When we have a hurricane, the temperature is very high, we get a lot, a lot of water, and when the water level rises, the crocodiles tend to move,” explained James Perran Ross, a biologist and crocodile specialist at the University of Florida.
