Taipei: A man who placed a live crocodile at the main entrance of the Legislative Yuan last month to protest a proposed ban on exotic pets has been fined NT$10,000 (US$322), according to the Taipei District Court.

According to Focus Taiwan, the protest was carried out by a crocodile breeder surnamed Ruan. The demonstration was in response to the Ministry of Agriculture’s proposal on October 8 to prohibit the purchase and private breeding of raccoons, saltwater crocodiles, vipers, and cobras. These rules were announced during a public notice period and did not require legislative approval.

At approximately 5 a.m. on October 17, Ruan, 52, transported a nearly 3-meter crocodile to the Legislative Yuan using a small crane truck. He used the crane and a bamboo pallet to place the animal in front of the closed gates of the Legislature, as reported by local media. Ruan was swiftly arrested by police and referred to the Taipei District Court for suspected violations of the Social Order Maintenance Act.

In a summary decision issued Wednesday, the court determined that Ruan had violated Article 70 of the act by allowing a dangerous animal to roam in public in the presence of other people. Consequently, he was fined NT$10,000-less than the maximum penalty of NT$12,000 or three days imprisonment-and his crocodile was seized.

The court also noted that this was not Ruan’s first offense of this nature. In 2018, he had been arrested and fined NT$3,000 after bringing a crocodile to a protest at the Executive Yuan.