Man-Eating Crocodiles Escape From Breeding Farm In South Africa, Hunt On To Capture Them

A massive hunt for young crocodile is on in South Africa after they escaped from a breeding farm in Western Cape province, BBC reported.

As per the report, an unknown number of Nile crocodiles, widespread in Africa, escaped from a Bonnievale commercial breeding farm into the Bree River on Wednesday, sparking a hunt involving police, landowners and conservation officials.

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The escaped crocodiles, with a reputation as man-eaters, are 1.2 and 1.5 metres in length, as per Reuters.

¡°We¡¯ve captured 26 at this point but I can¡¯t say how many are still on the loose,¡± Petro van Rhyn, a spokeswoman for CapeNature conversation agency was quoted telling Reuters on Thursday.

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Bred mainly for leather products, the freshwater crocodiles can grow to an average length of five metres, with adult males weighing more than half a tonne.

Western Cape provincial government spokesman James-Brent Styan has urged people to steer clear of the river.

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¡°They present medium danger to people because they are farmed animals used to regular feeding and do not hunt for food, but they are wild and instinctive animals,¡± he was quoted telling Reuters.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the farm owner first noticed some of his animals were missing early on Wednesday.

Also read: Watch: Massive Crocodile Swallows Small Shark In Bone-Chilling Video