November 27, 2020 – Vis islanders are these days not surprised to receive guests who come from all over the world, but the mysterious arrival of a crocodile has raised eyebrows and caused big-teethed smiles
For thousands of years, the inhabitants of Vis island have led a comparatively unharassed existence. They fished in the richly stocked waters that surround them and planted vines and other crops in the island’s soils, such day-today activities unaffected by whichever empire decided to lay claim to the rock. Being the inhabited island which lies furthest from the Croatian mainland might have contributed to so many carefree days. That’s not to say that nobody ever goes there.
Today a popular tourist destination, over the last few decades Vis island has welcomed visitors from all over the world. Although, the latest exotic arrival doesn’t look to have come by budget airline. Found on a boat near the village of Brgujac, a young crocodile has caused bewilderment among island residents over recent days.
Brgujac. The epicentre of Vis island’s punk-croc scene? © Tourist Board island Vis
Snapped on the waterfront of Brgujac and posted to the Facebook group ‘Moj otok Vis (My island Vis)’, the uncommon visitor has raised both eyebrows and merriment. Nobody is quite sure how the crocodile got here, not least the sailor on whose boat the crocodile was found.
Nobody knows of anyone keeping a crocodile as a pet on the island. The sailor and his boat haven’t travelled anywhere that far over recent weeks. Vis island’s long distance from the Croatian coast does theoretically place it closer to the African continent, where a crocodile might be more naturally found. But it’s only relatively nearer. Africa is still over 1500 kilometres away. This youngster doesn’t look to be capable of making such a swim. And, besides, although some do live in saltwater – most crocodiles prefer to spend their time in freshwater.
While the mystery of where the young crocodile came from is being solved, he’s been taken off the sailor’s boat. The crocodile was initially placed in the care of workers from the municipal company Gradina.
