「首タイヤ」のワニ、自由の身に　インドネシア

【パルＡＦＰ＝時事】インドネシアで、タイヤが首に５年以上もはまったままになっていたワニが、ついに自由の身になった。地元当局や住民が８日、明らかにした。（写真はインドネシア・パルで行われた、ワニの首にはまっていたタイヤを外す作業）
　ワニは２０１６年、中スラウェシ州の州都パルの住民に発見された。体長５．２メートルで、バイクのタイヤが首の部分にはまっていた。自然保護団体がタイヤを外すため、ワニを川からおびき寄せる取り組みを続けてきた。
　鳥類販売業を営むティリさん（３４）も３週間にわたって救出を試みていたが、７日夜、ワニを鶏肉でおびき寄せてロープで捕獲。地元住民数十人の協力を得て岸に引きずり揚げ、タイヤを切断した。
　ティリさんはＡＦＰの取材に対し、「ただ助けたかった。身動きが取れず苦しんでいる動物は見たくないから」と話した。
　自然保護団体はタイヤについて、ワニをペットとして捕獲しようとした何者かが故意にはめたのではないかとみている。
　ワニをめぐっては、地元自治体が２０２０年に、捕獲してタイヤを外すことができれば懸賞金を出すと約束して話題になった。ただその後、ワニの安全を脅かす恐れがあるとして、懸賞は取り下げられた。
　しかし、地元の自然保護局トップは「野生動物を救出した功績をたたえ、ティリさんを表彰したい」と語っている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/02/09-11:33）

A wild crocodile in Indonesia who was trapped in a tyre for more than five years has been rescued, freed from its rubber vice and released back into the wild, officials and residents said Tuesday.
Conservation workers have been trying to lure the stricken saltwater crocodile from a river since 2016 after residents of Palu city on Sulawesi island spotted the animal with a motorbike tyre wrapped around its neck.
But it was a local resident who snared the 5.2-metre (17 foot) long reptile -- who was regularly seen sunbathing in the Palu river in Central Sulawesi -- from its tight squeeze late on Monday.
Tili, a 34-year-old bird-seller, used chicken as bait and ropes to catch the beast at the end of what he said was a three-week rescue effort, before dozens of locals helped to drag the crocodile to shore and cut the tyre around its neck.
I just wanted to help, I hate seeing animals trapped and suffering, Tili, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, told AFP.
His first two attempts to rescue the croc failed because the ropes were not strong enough to contend with its weight, he said, before turning to nylon ropes used for tugging boats.
I was already exhausted so I let them finish the rescue, the crocodile was unbelievably heavy, everybody was sweating and getting very tired.
The crocodile was released back into the water immediately after the rescue to relieved cheers from locals.
Conservationists believe someone may have deliberately placed the tyre around the croc's neck in a failed attempt to trap it as a pet in the archipelago nation that is home to several species of the animal.
Tili beat the authorities to the capture because they lacked the proper equipment for a rescue in the river that houses more than 30 other crocodiles.
Yesterday was a historical day for us, we are grateful the crocodile was finally rescued and we appreciate the locals who showed concern for the wildlife, Hasmuni Hasmar, head of the local conservation agency, told AFP.
The reptile made headlines in early 2020 when the local government promised a reward to anyone who caught the croc and removed the tyre, but later called off the contest over fears it could endanger its safety.
But the local conservation agency said Tili is in line for a prize after his daring plan paid off.
We will award Tili for his effort in rescuing the wildlife, Hasmar said.