The Tempisque Conservation Area (ACT) of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) was alerted by the Police of the existence of three adult crocodiles trapped in a concrete trough in the mangrove area of Chira Island in Puntarenas, apparently, they had been there for a few days.

The artificial troughs are part of an abandoned infrastructure of what used to be a salt evaporation pond. Authorities assume that the crocodiles fell in it by accident and due to its depth, they were trapped.

Members of SINAC acted immediately since the crocodiles lives were at risk considering they had no access to food or water. They also represented a risk for the inhabitants of the island who were reportedly coming close to the area to see the crocodiles with the risk of someone falling in the trough and being attacked by the animals.

The National Coast Guard Service, the Chira Island Police department and members of SINAC had to wait for the high tide to be able to access the area through the Nancite Estuary so they had only four hours to rescue the reptiles and destroy the concrete walls to avoid the situation from happening again in the future.

Chira Island is the biggest island in the Costa Rican Pacific with a total of 4300 hectares, 28% of its territory are mangroves and estuaries, where the wildlife of the area finds the perfect refugee for their reproduction. There is an important population of crocodiles in this area that are part of the natural ecosystem and must be protected.