/ 9 January 2008

Two in KZN eaten by giant crocodile

At least two people have been eaten alive by a 6m-long crocodile in northern KwaZulu-Natal, 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.

KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife spokesperson Maureen Zimo said a 15-year-old boy — who was fishing with his 11-year-old friend — was dragged 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 had been eaten in his entirety as police were unable to find any remains.

KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial emergency medical rescue service confirmed that it 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 Zimo. ”The crocodile pulled the 15-year-old under the water … and that was it.”

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 was 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 6m 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 recapture the 6m croc and take it to a safe place where it will not harm people.”

She said the increased attacks in the area were a result of the nearby Mzina Dam drying. The crocs had been breeding there. Before the onset of the rainy season, the reptiles had been slowly working their way down stream.

”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.

Community 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 added. — Sapa