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A large number of young crocodiles are on the loose after escaping from a commercial breeding farm in Bonnievale in the Western Cape.
The provincial Department of Local Government said 20 young Nile crocodiles were recaptured in operations undertaken throughout Wednesday by CapeNature, the landowners in the area, the owner of the breeding farm, and the South African Police.
Department spokesperson James Brent-Styan said however that an unknown number remain at large and “have in all likelihood found their way to the Breede River which runs in the vicinity.”
“The crocodiles vary in size from 1.2m to 1.5m and present medium danger to people because they are farmed animals, used to regular feeding and therefore do not hunt for their food,” he said.
Styan cautions that they remain wild and instinctive animals and do pose a danger to the public who have been urged to avoid the river for a few days.
He said CapeNature and their partners will continue to search for the animals and have set a number of humane traps with bait to attempt to recapture the animals that remain on the loose.
“Patrols on the river will be undertaken every night to catch these animals,” Styan said.
