A young crocodile was spotted in the Vaal River system on Thursday morning, said the Vaal Rand police water wing.
”It was going from Klip River mouth into the Vaal River, a small one, about 1m,” said Inspector Gerrie Steyn.
”We’re going to look for that one, take it out and take it to the zoo.”
Steyn said crocodiles were very territorial and tended to stay in the same area, so it should be possible to find it.
He said the unit had also received a tip-off on Thursday about an illegal crocodile-breeding operation.
He said that was in a different area so was probably not the source of the crocodiles in the Vaal system. He would not give further details.
Last month Steyn and Gauteng Nature Conservation (GNC) officials said a crocodile found in the Vaal system had been shot dead.
GNC acting director Leon Lotter said at the time that charges of illegal hunting were being investigated in connection with the shooting of the crocodile in the Klip River on July 15.
He said there were believed to be at least two more crocodiles in the rivers, which are believed to have escaped from a crocodile farm or an illegal breeding operation.
Any one who sees one is warned not to approach it but to contact the GNC hotline on 082 759 0078 or Steyn on 082 853 0435. — Sapa