Crocodile found hiding under rental car after shocking dog walkers in Gran Canaria

A bizarre wildlife encounter has left residents in the Spanish city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria puzzled, as a crocodile-like caiman was found hiding under a rental car in the middle of a street. The reptile was discovered on Wednesday, September 10, in the La Isleta district of the city. Police were promptly called to the scene, where officers examined the mysterious creature and investigated the unusual incident.

Initial reports suggested the caiman might have been a pet belonging to a local resident, but this claim has not been officially confirmed. Caimans are not native to the Canary Islands, making the animal's unexpected appearance in a bustling urban area particularly shocking. Spain has strict regulations regarding exotic pets, with a positive list system determining which species can be kept as pets.

Additionally, international trade and ownership of certain crocodilian species are subject to controls under CITES regulations. While no official statement has confirmed whether the caiman in Las Isleta was illegally kept, the incident has sparked questions about how such a reptile ended up on a typical Las Palmas street. Gran Canaria has experienced similar encounters with exotic reptiles before, including a caiman reported in Alicante province in July and another captured at Almansa reservoir in Albacete in 2025.

In 2022, the Guardia Civil seized 53 venomous and potentially dangerous animals from a private collection on the island, which included several species of caiman. The ultimate fate of the caiman found in Las Isleta remains unknown, leaving residents wondering about the circumstances that led to this unexpected wildlife encounter.