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Subscribe to RSSA crocodile farm in South Africa is forced to open flood gates and release the reptiles into rising waters. At least 2,000 crocodiles have been recaptured. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has called out the police to join the hunt for as many as 10,000 crocodiles on the loose after escaping from a farm during floods and being washed into one of southern Africa's biggest rivers, officials said Friday.
Crocodile farmers, locals and police have trapped thousands of the reptiles, using plastic bands to tie their legs behind their backs and then piling them into pickup trucks.
The flood gates at the Rakwena Crocodile Farm, near to the Botswana and Zimbabwe borders, were opened on Sunday because it was feared that rising flood waters would crush the reptiles, releasing some 15,000 crocodiles into the Limpopo River.
"At night time we have more success. It is much easier to see them," Zane Langman, whose in-laws own the farm, told news channel ENCA.
Fashion industry
Most of the crocodiles are less than 6 feet 6 inches long. The area is home to several farms that supply crocodile skins to the fashion industry.
"We are working as a team with the stakeholders," police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said Friday.
There have been no reports of injuries caused by the escaped reptiles.
Police in Zimbabwe, on the other side of the Limpopo, also issued warnings to people to avoid going into the water because of the crocodile threat.
Heavy rains and flooding have claimed at least 20 lives in Mozambique and South Africa and led to the evacuations of thousands.
Related:
15,000 crocodiles escape from South Africa farm
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Wait, "escaping from a farm"? They're growing crocodiles on a farm? There might be a good reason for that, but I'd like a little more information to put the story into context beyond "Holy crap! 10,000 crocodiles on the loose!"
In the USA.. there was a snake farm that had the same disaster happen with a hurricane and now the state of Florida has major issues with Boa Constrictors and Anaconda's growing wild.. if the croc's are not rounded up and you dont get all of them.. you are going to have a prob in the next 10 yrs... just like Florida with the snakes !!!!
Hide and meat, Brainiac.
What A Croc,,,,,,, ! ....
Dad used to hunt them by having me wear my "chicken wing necklace" and "rabbit gut hip waders". Just hop in the water and wait!
Call "Crocodile Dundee."
"The area is home to several farms that supply crocodile skins to the fashion industry." Crocodile: "Ah, revenge is sweet!."
I certainly won't shed any "crocodile tears" when they're caught.
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Anyone else think this article is not well written? Things i'd like to know are: In this area are Crocs in the wild? Could these crocs end up being introduced to this area by this? Do they have plans to make sure that the crocs can't breed in the wild?
As someone else mentioned, this could be a major problem - like Florida is dealing with for the pythons.
Poor crocs must have gone through a lot of stress.
I say catch them, bring them to the US and release them in the Red states. While the crocs find a home away from home, the local republican population will be glad to see more of their kind around them.
I hear they're playing "Crocodile Rock" to attract the escapees. What do you call the crocs that they manage to capture? ------------- BOOTS!
I hope most of the crocs espace and stay in the wild rather than slavery and death