SHE'S snap happy!

Snappy the crocodile made the national news after being left outside a Wolverhampton pet shop in a plastic box – but she has now been given a home in Cleethorpes.

The female Caiman crocodile joined male Colin at Cleethorpes Jungle Zoo earlier this month, and the following day, they were spotted laying in the water, side by side.

However, if she had not been rescued by the animal-loving couple who run the pet and reptile centre in King's Road, there is a chance she may have been put to sleep.

Craig said: "If she was kept in someone's home she would be in a tank but here she can move around and submerge fully underwater – she seems really happy.

"We were worried that Colin might not accept her, but the day after we put her in, we saw them laying in the water next to each other."

Four-and-a-half foot Snappy was left on the doorstep of Wickid Pets on a cold December night to give owner Jim Wicks a sharp shock when he opened the box on the morning of Friday, December 16. Amazingly, it was not the first time – Mr Wicks has had four crocodiles left at his shop in just 18 months.

The following day, the story appeared in national newspapers and Jungle Zoo manager Craig Gledhill read the story while waiting to have his hair cut.

By chance, Craig and Sharon had just finished building a brand new heated enclosure for Colin and thought it was an ideal opportunity to bring in a new addition to the zoo.

The couple heard the story again on Radio 2 and decided to get in touch with Mr Wicks, knowing that unless the animal could be rehomed – which would be difficult as it is a common breed – it would most likely be put down.

Craig said: "Spectacle Caimans are quite common which means most wildlife centres and zoos already have them so I knew it was unlikely anyone would take her on.

"It seemed a shame that she could be put down because of someone else's selfishness so we phoned the pet shop to see if we could have her.

"She has been very well looked after and is in great health."

Mr Wicks had hoped that West Midlands Safari Park would take on Snappy but was all too happy for Sharon and Craig to take her. The couple went to Wolverhampton in a van with a heated crate and drove Snappy back to Cleethorpes. They said she was "very calm" when they collected her.

Now she is in the enclosure with Colin, although we will not hear the pitter-patter of little crocodile feet any time soon.

"Unfortunately, we do not have room for more than two crocodiles and as they are so difficult to rehome, we cannot let them breed.

"They can live together as they normally would, but we will have to remove the eggs if they mate," said Craig.