Just When You Thought Australia Was Dangerous, Kansas City Steps Up With A Backyard Full Of Caimans

For years the running joke has been that Australia is the world’s center for deadly and dangerous animals. As recently as this week there were reports of thousands of spiders blanketing an Australian town. But, thanks to a cable worker undertaking maintenance work on a property in Kansas City, it appears Australia has competition.

A worker from AT&T was working on cable lines at a property on Euclid Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, when he noticed three caimans and a host of exotic birds. He immediately alerted authorities who are now trying to work out if the property owner has a legal permit to keep the animals.

Officers arrived at the Kansas City address around 10 p.m. on Tuesday. The property owners allowed them access, claiming they had a court order for all the animals. The son of the property owner, Michael Jacobs, issued the following statement.

“Let me assure you that everything is legal and proper at this residence. I have paperwork signed by the city attorney authorizing me to continue to maintain what remains of my mother’s small animal sanctuary while abiding by the same rules she did… I know you are always on the lookout for a sensational story but there is none here. Thank you.”

This court order is reported as being issued some time in the 1990’s though, so authorities are trying to ascertain whether it is still current. However, it is likely there will some sort of legitimate paperwork as the Kansas City property has been a wildlife sanctuary since the 1960’s. According to the Kansas City Star, at one point in the 90’s, the property “boasted 34 caimans, one alligator, eight macaws, a parrot, six chickens, two geese and 31 white rats.” The Kansas City property owner, Pat Nichols Jacobs, reportedly filed a lawsuit in the 90’s in order to keep the animals at what she calls Parrot Hill Crocodile Farm.

Caimans originate in Central and South American, not Kansas City. Typically they can grow to 8 feet in length. The largest caiman at the Kansas City property was measured at 6 feet, the smallest measured in at 3 feet. Both sizes, however, warrant concern, especially since one of the caimans had access to the property’s basement via a hole cut out of a door. It is also now up to animal control workers to decide whether this caiman is allowed to be kept inside the house.

What do you think – does Australia still contain more dangerous animals, or is Kansas City giving it a run for their money? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!

[Image credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons / Karelj]