Yury Stolbun, head of the rescue group, said Wednesday a tour group in a catamaran spotted the crocodile floating in the water and initially thought it was a log, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.
"Suddenly the log started blinking and paddling with its legs," Stolbun said.
Stolbun said the croc belongs to a man who offers tourists the chance to be photographed with the reptile.
"Something distracted the owner and the crocodile escaped into the lake," Stolbun said.
The rescuer said the crocodile was captured uninjured.