A US investigation into alleged money laundering for drug traffickers by one of Honduras' most powerful families has resulted in some unusual victims: thousands of hungry crocodiles.
At least 7,500 crocodiles on a private farm in northern Honduras have been poorly fed in recent weeks because of a lack of resources, authorities and employees at the property said. The bank accounts of the farm's owner, the Rosenthal family, were seized during a probe into accusations they were operating a money laundering network linked to drug trafficking.
Farm employees told The Associated Press yesterday that the animals went without food for more than a month, but were finally fed over the weekend thanks to donations.
Worker Antonio Mejia said that at least 200 small crocodiles had died, but Pablo Dubon, northern regional director of Honduras' Forest Conservation Institute, said he doubted that claim.
The workers said that there were about 9,000 crocodiles at the farm, but authorities said the number probably was closer to 7,500.
"There have been difficulties in feeding (the crocodiles)," Dubon told The Associated Press by telephone.
He said he asked private companies to donate money to buy food for the crocodiles and on Sunday it obtained about 23,000 pounds of food, most of it chicken.
