Detecting strange creatures in China

A fisherman in southern China caught a crocodile-like animal but had a turtle-like component on his back.

Sun Yongcheng fishermen and strange animals.Photo: Rex Features.

Sun Yongcheng discovered the animal in Weishan Lake, Anhui Province.'I saw something black stuck to the net that day. It struggled and bit the net when I pulled it up , ' Sun said.

Sun said the animal is 76 cm long, 30 cm wide and weighs 7 kg.

Local officials say the strange animal may be someone's pet that was released into the lake. They fear it could pose a threat to the ecosystem of the lake and surrounding area.

A spokesman for the local fisheries management agency said it was the first time a body of a crocodile-like animal had been discovered in Anhui province.

Sun Yongcheng's story was published on Telegraph on May 24.