VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 20 (UPI) -- A New York matchmaker has dispelled rumors her millionaire client does not exist and confirmed the Canadian man is still interested in finding true love.

The Canwest News Service reported Wednesday that dating guru Janis Spindel recently dismissed allegations that the mysterious millionaire was nonexistent and reiterated the Vancouver residence is still seeking a wife.

"He's real," Spindel said. "He's an amazing guy."

Amazing or not, the lack of an available photograph or name of the mysterious Romeo has some women hesitant to pay the $25 "processing fee" for Spindel's services.

Spindel said her client, who allegedly is paying her $250,000 for her efforts, is an attractive widower with an 8-year-old daughter.

Yet for those who still do not believe her client is a real-life individual desperate for love, the professional matchmaker offered one last bit of proof.

"If he's not real why would I be 3,000 miles across the country wasting my time?" Spindel told the news service.

Crocodiles helping protect Indian forests

BHUBANESWAR, India, June 20 (UPI) -- The Indian forestry department released 48 crocodiles into the wild last week in an attempt to stop the depletion of the nation's mangrove forests.

Forestry officials said releasing the potentially deadly beasts, which were all bred in captivity, should make poachers reconsider journeying into the wild to gather their ill-gotten gains, The (Kolkata) Telegraph said Tuesday.

"We are pressing into service these reptiles for forest conservation. Once the crocs are firmly ensconced in the water inlets, human intrusion would greatly be curtailed," forestry official Golakh Rout said. "As the people here take the water route to sneak into the forest, we feel the crocs will come in handy to protect the greens,"

The Telegraph said the reptiles were all released within the Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, where a large amount of mangrove trees have been felled by area residents.

Refrigerator acted as makeshift cat coffin

MONTREAL, June 20 (UPI) -- Movers cleaning out a loft in the Canadian province of Quebec recently found 43 dead cats placed in a refrigerator alongside condiments and other food items.

The Montreal loft previously had been rented by a couple in their 50s and the discovery of their grisly refrigerator contents left their former neighbors questioning the couple's motivation, The (Montreal) Gazette said Wednesday.

"The impression I'm starting to get is that they wanted to have their own animal sanctuary," said Greg Wanless, who lives in the loft next door.

The fact that syringes were found in many of the cats' bodies has led some to postulate the couple may have given the felines impromptu medical care.

Another 13 cats were found in the apartment alive and are receiving appropriate medical treatment.

The Gazette said authorities were determining whether they can charge the couple with animal cruelty, since Canadian law states an intent to be cruel must be proven for prosecution.

Estranged 9/11 dad seeks compensation

NEW YORK, June 20 (UPI) -- The estranged father of a man killed in the World Trade Center five years ago is now fighting for half the $2.9 million awarded to his son's estate.

Philadelphia native Kenneth M. Caldwell hadn't seen his father in 17 years when he perished Sept. 11, 2001.

Yet, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, deadbeat dad Leon W. Caldwell has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn, claiming he should be entitled to half the money granted to Kenneth's estate by the federal 9/11 Victims Recovery Fund. Leon Caldwell left his family in 1973 and had little contact with his two sons afterward.

Rulings in similar cases previously have discounted the claims of absentee fathers. Paul J. Bschorr, an attorney for Kenneth's mother, Elsie Goss-Caldwell, said he hopes the judge hearing this case will do the same.

Caldwell, a cook living in New Jersey, could not be reached for comment.

Kenneth was a 30-year-old technology representative in the New York office of Alliance Consulting of Philadelphia when he died without leaving a will. His body was never recovered.