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The crocodiles have escaped from a Western Cape farm.
- An unknown number of young crocodiles are on the loose in the Western Cape.
- The crocodiles escaped from a commercial breeding farm in Bonnievale.
- Twenty crocodiles have been recovered.
A group of young Nile crocodiles is on the loose in Bonnievale, in the Western Cape.
The reptiles escaped from a commercial breeding farm.
CapeNature, the landowners in the area, the owner of the crocodile farm and the South African Police Service carried out operations to locate the crocodiles throughout the day.
Twenty crocodiles have been recovered.
According to the Western Cape provincial government, an unknown number are still at large and have in all likelihood found their way to the Breede River, which runs nearby.
Local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell said the crocodiles range in size from 1.2m to 1.5m.
Danger
Bredell said that reptiles pose a medium danger to people because they are farm animals.
“They are used to regular feeding and therefore do not hunt for food. But they are still wild and instinctive animals and pose a danger to the public,” Bredell said.
Bredell has urged the people of Bonnievale and the surrounding areas to avoid the Breede River for a few days and to be on the lookout for escaping reptiles.
“An area of about 5 km upstream towards Robertson and 5 km downstream towards Swellendam are the key areas. CapeNature and its partners will continue to search for the animals and have placed a series of humane traps, with bait, to try to recover the animals that are left on the loose.
“There will be patrols on the river every night to catch these animals,” Bredell said.
Bredell has urged people who see a crocodile not to approach it, but to alert authorities immediately.
