'Crocodile' terrorising German town turns out to be a beaver

OFFICIALS in the German town of Schwandorf say the elusive 'crocodile' they have been hunting for the last week may have just been a beaver. 
 
Spiegel Online reports that officials in Schwandorf spent days last week deploying rubber dinghies, divers and even helicopters in search of the alleged stray crocodile.

The beast, quickly dubbed "Klausi", was the hottest topic for discussion in the picturesque Bavarian town, and became 'silly season' news around the country.

It began when two visitors to a local lake, Klauensee, claimed to have spotted a "one metre long creature with a long tail and claws" in the water. The lake has a history of unverified croc sightings.
Officials sprang into action with dozens of searchers hunting the creature and cameras planted on the lakefront.

But even a dramatic night-time boat operation with more than 70 police, fire fighters and aid workers failed to capture "Klausi".

City spokesman Lothar Mulzar told Spiegel that the file on "Klausi" has now been shut, because after analysing 3700 pictures from the cameras, Klausi is believed to have been a beaver.

"There were foxes, Grey Heron, dogs running freely and broken branches, but no crocodile," Mr Mulzar said.

The city has reopened the lake for swimming.