The impressive remains of a 120-year-old saltwater crocodile have been presented to delighted pupils – after being hidden under the school floorboards for decades.
This reptile dates back to 19 century and was found by workmen in June 2019.
Many generations have shared a story of a South Wales school crocodile hiding in its classroom.
A local soldier who served during the First World War returned the body of an escaped crocodile to his hometown as a souvenir.
It is thought that the animal was put on display at the Rhondda school – Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Bodringallt – but it was then stored beneath the floorboards to protect it.
After being brought home by a soldier as a memento from WW1, the remains of the saltwater Crocodile were found under South Wales’s floorboards.
It was missing the crocodile’s bottom, as well as its feet and base.
It had only a few teeth left in the skull of this poor-looking crocodile.
The remains were restored by Pure Conservation, a Welsh company.
The crocodile had suffered significant damage – its entire underside was missing, along with its feet and the base of its tail, and its teeth had fallen out.
To remove any pests, the body was frozen and then was tested for potentially hazardous substances.
The sockets were then removed and cleaned to get rid of dirt, soil and cobwebs.
It was finished just in time for Christmas. The crocodile then went on public display last week.
The remains of the Crocodile were cleaned up and tested for hazardous substances during a restoration project
It had all its teeth extracted and was displayed as a WW1 souvenir crocodile.
Councillor Joy Rosser described the discovery as ‘absolutely incredible’.
She added: ‘It was the last thing workmen thought they’d find underneath a classroom… It was fantastic to see the excited look on pupils’ faces when they saw the crocodile on display.’
She said it was a ‘one-of-a-kind, real piece of local history’.
The largest reptile, saltwater crocodiles can reach 23 feet in length and weight up to 2,200lb.
These animals are found mainly in south-east Asia and north Australia.