The croc ness monster! Mysterious crocodile is sighted in Tuscany, sparking swarm of visitors and hunters

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:01, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 15:02, 15 July 2026 A mysterious crocodile has apparently been spotted in a small Tuscan village, sparking a swarm of visitors and hunters desperate to see the killer reptile.  A photo of the croc appeared to show it lurking in a murky lake in the village of Masiano. Its eyes and snout can be seen breaking the surface of the water, facing the lake maintenance contractor who took the picture through dead twigs and branches.  Since the photo was shared in May, residents of the village, which lies 27 miles northwest of Florence, have been left divided over whether the crocodile actually exists.  But the mystery of its existence has brought curious visitors from across Italy, seeking to get a glimpse of the reptile.  The animal is said to have arrived in Masiano after it escaped captivity from someone keeping it as a young hatchling, escaping to the lake during floods that devastated the area around three years ago.  The lake is around 15m (50ft) deep and is full of fish, giving any reptile that hides in it plenty of food. On top of this, the lake has steep banks and sturdy fencing that is said to stop it from escaping.  Following the mysterious sighting, Vivai Reali - the lake's owner - reported the incident to local police and hired a French croc hunter to capture it.  But Olivier Behra, who set up photo traps and a metal cage last week, has not managed to catch it.  A photo of the croc apparently showed it lurking in a murky lake in the village of Masiano Despite this, he claimed in a Facebook post that the animal is 'barely over 1.5m long.'  Behra added: 'This gives it a good 20 years before it poses any real threat (except, of course, to anyone trying to catch it!)'  Behra will be back in Masiano in September, when a lowered water level should make the search easier.  But many in the town don't believe it even exists.  Tommaso Pinferi, a 35-year-old business owner in the town, told the Times: 'I've seen many strange creatures walk the streets of Masiano, but never a crocodile.'  His colleague, 65-year-old  Domenico Petrolo, joked: 'I only see the crocodile after a boozy lunch.' The risk of lying about this is high for the maintenance worker who signed an official report with the local police, as he faces up to six months in prison and a fine of up to €516 (£439) if he is found to have caused 'false alarm.' Maurizio Bartolini, the brother of the lake's owner, said local police sent the image to a specialised AI research team in Florence, which branded it a real picture.  The authorities' refusal to comment on the matter has allowed rumours to circulate. Residents reportedly claim that duck and heron sightings are in decline, with the crocodile apparently to blame.  And many in the village believe that there are even stranger things in Masiano, including 'carnivorous tortoises, coypu, blue crab, and killer crayfish.' For now though, locals seem happy to capitalise on the new, and possibly fleeting, publicity.  A local bar has added a 'Masiano Crocodile' cocktail to its menu, which is made of mint liquor, gin, tonic water, lime juice, herbs and gherkins. A local youth football team, meanwhile, has renamed itself the 'Masiano Crocodiles', with one of the members wearing a crocodile costume while scoring a key penalty. Domenico Vannucci, a 50-year-old nursery owner, thinks the hamlet should go even further. 'I don't care if there's a crocodile or not, although I like the idea,' he said. 'But we haven't publicised it enough.'