A MASSIVE 3ft crocodile that was spotted swimming in the water sparked chaos among tourists at a popular holiday hotspot in Spain.

Holidaymakers were left in shock after spotting the scaly reptile near a popular bathing spot, the reservoir in Albacete in Castilla-La Mancha.

The reptile was luckily seen by two teenagers and captured by cops before it could cause any harm.

The Guardia Civil is now probing who may have released the animal into the Spanish reservoir.

The nature protection service (Seprona) originally thought the reptile was an alligator but later identified it as a yacare caiman.

This species is a member of a crocodile family usually found in Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia.

The creature was captured using bait by Seprona officers, in partnership with an environmental team, members of the fishing club, and staff from the Albacete wildlife recovery centre.

Since its capture, the croc has been sent to Madrid Zoo.

It was found in a regular bathing area, located near a jetty.

The Civil Guard of Albacete has launched an investigation to identify the person who may have illegally released the animal into the reservoir.

The possession and release of exotic species without a permit constitutes a serious infringement of wildlife conservation regulations.

It may also be treated as an environmental crime.

A local environmental agency commented: “This type of irresponsible release poses a serious threat to local biodiversity and can lead to safety issues.”

The harrowing discovery has sparked fear in the nearby area.

Many locals and tourists have reportedly said they are now scared of swimming in public lakes and reservoirs.

The yacare caiman can reach a length of one and a half metres as an adult.

Due to its mottled skin it is highly sought after by the footwear industry.

However, the species is protected under legislation as it is listed in the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

Cops believe the main line of investigation is that this caiman ended up in Spain through the illegal pet trade.

Yacare caimans breed in the summer, and its diet usually consists of fish, crustaceans, snails and other molluscs.

But it is also capable of capturing other reptiles and small mammals in cases of extreme hunger.

In April, a dopey tourist was filmed being savaged by a 15ft crocodile after climbing into the reptile’s cage to snap some selfies.

The 29-year-old male visitor pulled the stunt in front of horrified onlookers in the Philippines after mistaking the cold-blooded beast for a statue.

And earlier this month, an influencer was seen wrestling a deadly croc, sparking widespread outrage.

Alarming footage showed 27-year-old Colton Macaulay pulling the exotic animal out of the water before parading it and calling it a “little b****” to his 15 million followers online.