Escaped crocodiles in process of being recaptured

A large number of young crocodiles has escaped from a commercial breeding farm in Bonnievale in the Western Cape.

Operations undertaken throughout the day by CapeNature, the landowners in the area, the owner of the crocodile breeding farm and the South African Police, have managed to recapture twenty of the young Nile crocodiles. An unknown number remains 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. But they remain wild and instinctive animals and do pose a danger to the public.

Anton Bredell, the minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, is urging the community of Bonnievale and surrounding areas to avoid the Breede River for a few days and to keep an eye out for the escaped reptiles.

“An area about 5km upstream towards Robertson and 5km downstream towards Swellendam is the key area. 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.”

Bredell has urged people who spot a crocodile, not to approach it but to alert the authorities immediately.