Man in Japan held for keeping saltwater crocodile without permission

A 34-year-old man from Osaka in western Japan was arrested Monday for allegedly keeping a saltwater crocodile without permission from local authorities, police said, Report informs via Kyodo News.

Soma Satomi, who runs a pet shop, is alleged to have kept the 1.5-meter crocodile in a tank in his shop, along with an alligator snapping turtle and 21 common snapping turtles, all without permission, according to the police. He has admitted to the allegation.

Known as the largest living species of crocodilian, saltwater crocodiles can grow to 4 to 5 meters in length and prey on mammals and other animals.

Satomi allegedly kept the animals as pets and was not intending to sell them, according to the Osaka prefectural police, which searched the shop on September 1.

The police are investigating how he acquired the restricted animals.