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    Costa Rican footballer devoured by crocodile while bathing in river as beast is spotted with body in its jaws

    A FOOTBALLER has been devoured by a crocodile after taking a dip in a river to cool off.Shocking images show the large reptile swimming through the water with the victim’s body in its jaws.
    Tributes have been paid to Costa Rican footballer Jesus Alberto Lopez OrtizCredit: Jam Press
    Shocking images emerged of the player being mauled and carried by a crocodileCredit: Jam Press Vid
    Locals battled to haul the victim’s body from the riverCredit: Jam Press Vid
    Another clip shows the crocodile being shot dead in the water before locals carry its victim’s body to the riverbank.
    Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz, nicknamed “Chucho”, was killed by the reptile on Saturday, it has been revealed.
    The 29-year-old footballer was attacked by the crocodile while cooling off in the river in Rio Cañas in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
    Locals followed the reptile in a canoe – but a statement by local police said it was their officers who killed the crocodile.
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    Lopez was a footballer for amateur side Deportivo Río Cañas, as well as a dad to two children aged eight and three.
    His distraught family have now appealed to the public to help pay for the player’s funeral costs, while his team manager Luis Carlos Montes is also organising a collection.
    The player’s club paid tribute, saying: “With deep sorrow we make public the death of our player Jesús López Ortiz that God enjoys.
    “Rest in peace, Chucho – we join the pain of all his family.
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    One supporter’s comment in response on Facebook said: “Always with his humility that characterised him, last night he delighted us with his last game.
    “We will miss you, Chucho – the ball always at 10.”
    Costa Rica’s ministry of environment and energy bans hunting or killing protected animals including crocodiles.
    But local police decided they had permission under the central American country’s wildlife laws “to free the body from the jaws of the reptile” and shoot the crocodile dead.
    In a statement, they said: “It should be clarified that all efforts were made to rescue the body of the deceased person without causing damage to the reptile, which was not possible.”
    Last November a 12ft crocodile tore off the head of an eight-year-old boy Julio Otero Fernández in Costa Rica while he was on a fishing trip with his horrified family.
    Later that month a hunter tracked the suspected predator and shot it dead before fleeing the scene.
    In Indonesia last July, a 14-year-old girl was killed by a crocodile while washing her clothes in the river.
    That attack came a year and a half after another eight-year-old boy was mauled to death by a crocodile near his home in Malaysia.
    And just last week, also in Malaysia, a missing farmer was found inside the belly of a huge 14ft crocodile.
    An elderly man died when he was set upon by some 40 crocodiles after falling into their enclosure earlier this year in Cambodia.
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    Also in May, the remains of a missing fisherman were found inside two crocodiles in Australia.
    And last year two tourists from the United States were attacked by a crocodile at a resort in Mexico when one went swimming in the ocean at night and the second came in to try helping him. More

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    Man City flop risks animal rights outrage as he’s filmed walking his pet TIGER on the street

    EX-MANCHESTER CITY defender Jason Denayer has risked the wrath of animal lovers by parading around with a chained-up TIGER.The Belgium international spent five years with City, but never broke into their first team.
    Jason Denayer took a tiger for a walkCredit: Instagram
    And has risked criticism from animal rights activistsCredit: Instagram
    He spent five years at Manchester CityCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Ex-Man Utd star Memphis Depay sparked controversy in 2020 after posing with a baby liger
    He had a season in the top flight on loan to Sunderland, and won the Scottish Premiership during another loan to Celtic.
    Denayer, 27, went on to impress in France with Lyon and featured in Euro 2016 for Belgium – but now plays in the UAE Pro League for Dubai club Shabab Al-Ahli.
    He recently took the opportunity to take a tiger for a walk through the streets of the Middle Eastern emirate.
    The centre-back proudly posted film of himself leading the powerful beast on a rusty chain, and captioned it: “Walking my cat.”
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    However, Denayer took steps to avoid abuse on Instagram by restricting comments to his own followers.
    Their observations included: “The Lion King with his tiger,” “You’re the best” and “The boss.”
    Former Manchester United striker Memphis Depay came in for ferocious abuse in 2020 when posting social media images of himself with a baby liger.
    Animal rights groups criticised the Holland international for interacting with the feline, a cross between a lion and a tiger.
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    Denayer has started just eight of Shabab’s 26 games this season.
    He has won 35 Belgium caps, but last played for the Red Devils 14 months ago. More

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    Nike and Puma to stop making football boots from premium kangaroo leather

    TOP sports brands are to stop making football boots with premium kangaroo leather.The likes of Nike and Puma are ditching it in favour of synthetic uppers after pressure from animal rights activists and a crackdown in the United States.
    The popular Nike Tiempo will in future use alternative synthetic fabric
    Ex-England captain David Beckham stopped wearing his kangaroo-skin boots in 2006 after he was sent graphic images of animals being slaughtered for them.
    US sportswear giant Nike announced last week that by the end of the year kangaroo leather would not be used in any of its products.
    They said its popular Tiempo range — worn by stars including Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson — will in future use alternative synthetic fabric.
    It comes after German brand Puma agreed to ditch kangaroo leather a few weeks ago.
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    Nike’s recent announcement has been welcomed by Wayne Pacelle — the president of animal welfare group the Centre for a Humane Economy — who called it a “seismic event for wildlife protection”.
    Nike was a target of the group’s “Kangaroos are not shoes” campaign video. More