KZN crocodile eats two people

2008-01-09 16:49

Durban - At least two people have been eaten alive by a six-metre long crocodile in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), police and wildlife officials said on Wednesday.

Jozini police and KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife officials said they were investigating a report that a third person may have also been eaten alive by the same crocodile on Tuesday afternoon.

Ezemvelo Wildlife spokesperson Maureen Zimo said a 15-year-old boy - who was fishing with his 11-year-old friend - was dragged down into the water and "eaten" by the crocodile at the Sibhicayi River in the Mduku area on Sunday.

A police communications officer at the Jozini police station, who refused to be named, believed the boy was totally devoured as police had been unable to find any remains.

KwaZulu-Natal's provincial Emergency Medical Rescue Service confirmed that they had not received any calls in the area to retrieve a body.

"Two boys - aged 11 and 15 - were busy fishing in the Sibhicayi River on Sunday evening when they saw a crocodile swimming really fast towards them," said the spokesperson.

Not the first attack

"The crocodile pulled the 15-year-old under the water...and that was it," she said.

Police said the second boy ran to alert residents and the matter was reported to police.

"There have been other sightings in this area ... this attack was not the first in the area," she said.

The family of the deceased were not immediately available for comment.

Wildlife authorities believed that the size of the crocodile had been understated at 3.6m.

Zimo said: "A while ago, there was a six metre croc that had attacked a resident. We set up a trap and captured it, but because of its size, it managed to escape. We believe this was the same croc that attacked the child on Sunday.

"We are planning to set up more traps to re-capture the six metre croc and take it to a safe place where it will not harm people," said Zimo.

She said the reason for the increased attacks in the area was as a result of the nearby Mzina Dam drying. The crocs had been breeding there. Before the onset of the rainy season, the crocodiles had slowly worked their way downstream.

"In November, we captured two crocs at the Sibhicayi River and since then residents have been warned not to stand on the river's edge or fish because the river is infested with crocodiles," said Zimo.

'Tough time'

Local resident Bheki Gumede said he too was aware of the attack on the child.

"We went to the river and searched for the boy but no remains were found...the family is really going through a tough time and we are trying to help them as best we can," he said.

"We believe there was a second attack yesterday (Tuesday) at the same river but we have not been able to confirm it - as the person who witnessed the attack has gone missing," Gumede said.

- SAPA