Crocodile lying on the shore of the river. Photo: Sina Weibo

A video of an 80-centimeter-long crocodile in the Huangpu River in Shanghai went viral online, and it has even escaped repeated captures by local police.

Video circulating online shows a crocodile lying on the shore as onlookers shout "it is moving." Pictures and videos suggest that it may be a Siamese crocodile, said local authorities.

Authorities also pointed out that since there is no natural distribution of crocodiles in Shanghai, the occurrence of this crocodile is largely the result of discarding, releasing or escaping.

"We are still working to catch the crocodile," said local authorities, noting that although Siamese crocodiles do not generally pose a danger to humans, they still attack people when they think they are threatened.