124 crocodiles suffocate in Mexico truck trip

Mexico City - More than 120 crocodiles died from apparently suffocating and crushing each other while being transported across Mexico in a truck, authorities said on Wednesday.

The wildlife company Cocodrilos Exoticos, based in the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo, could face a fine of between 50 to 50 000 days of minimum wage - $193 to $193 000, the environmental prosecutor's office said.

The 124 reptiles were among 350 Morelet's crocodiles from another farm, Cocodrilos Mexicanos, located in the northwestern Pacific coast state of Sinaloa, the office said in a statement.

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But inspectors discovered that 124 of the 350 specimens were dead when they arrived at the "Cocodrilia" wildlife conservation facility in the Caribbean coast town of Chetumal. There are 2 550 km between the two cities.

The crocodiles "presumably died from suffocation and being crushed during the trip," the statement said.

Pictures released by the prosecutor's office showed the large truck and a handful of dead crocodiles on the ground, including one with its neck twisted.

The company is accused of failing to guarantee "dignified treatment" for the animals under wildlife protection laws.

The Cocodrilia conservation site acquired nearly 5 000 crocodiles from the Sinaloa company.